AFSCME is part of a broad coalition of labor organizations, faith leaders and community groups that forced a stalemate on prison privatization legislation in Michigan last week. Faith leaders have been pressuring state representatives to take the moral course for Michigan, while while labor groups have fought to keep public corrections facilities out of the hands of irresponsible private prison operators.

The legislation in question was introduced by state Rep. Jon Bumstead on November 10, 2011—nine days after he accepted a $500 campaign contribution from a vice president for GEO Group, Inc., a Florida-based private prison corporation.

AFSCME members and our labor allies have been making the case that prison privatization does nothing to address Michigan’s budget problems. Our efforts, along with the lobbying by our community allies, put enough pressure on undecided legislators that a vote to sell off Michigan’s corrections facilities has been put on hold.

AFSCME members and our allies in this fight, will keep up the pressure until this misguided proposal is off the table for good.