Privatizing In Prisons: Laid-Off Food Service Workers Offered Jobs As Prison Guards
LANSING (WWJ) - Some laid-off state prison food service workers may make a big career change.
WWJ's Beth Fisher reports that hundreds of prison food service workers are first in line to be offered jobs as prison guards.
This comes about as 380 food service workers in the prisons are being laid off because food service is being privatized with Aramark.
Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan says those laid off can apply to Aramark or apply to be a prison guard.
"We're going to be running a special corrections officers school just for food service workers that might be displaced, that may be around December and then any food service worker that would like to go to the academy to be a corrections officer we are going to give them that opportunity," said Marlan.
Marlan says several food service workers have expressed an interest in becoming prison guards.
He also noted that they will have to pass a physical fitness test.
