DES MOINES, Iowa - The head of the Iowa American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the union that represents public workers, is criticizing policies in place during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Danny Homan, president of the AFSCME Council 61, says workers sent home to quarantine are having to use their earned benefits to cover their time off because they've been classified as essential employees.
Hogan says Governor Kim Reynolds and the director of the Department of Corrections (DOC) excluded all DOC employees from the Federal Legislation that provides for Emergency Paid Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave.
"The governor and the director of Corrections declared all DOC employees as essential," said Hogan. "The governor has also done this to Department of Human Services employees and Iowa Veterans Home employees."
Homan earlier complained that some public employees were forced to stay on the job after a coworker had tested positive.
Friday The Department of Corrections announced a correctional officer at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville had tested positive fir COVID-19. The "adult" officer (age 18-40) began experiencing symptoms last week.
The department says it's taking steps to protect its staff and inmates.
"The department has implemented pre-established action steps and procedures for identifying COVID-19 contacts with staff and offenders and quarantining those exposed. The department is taking every appropriate measure to ensure that the impact on staff and inmates can be mitigated as much as possible."
DOC says it hasn't had any inmates test positive for COVID-19.