7/23/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN - Michigan correctional officers are calling Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s recent veto of two pension bills a major setback in efforts to address chronic staffing shortages. The measures would have moved eligible officers into the State Police Retirement System and established a hybrid pension plan – benefits their union says could help recruit and retain officers. Byron Osborn, president of the Michigan Corrections Organization, warns persistent vacancies and mandatory overtime are creating dangerous conditions inside Michigan prisons, including inmates being housed in facilities that don't match their security classifications.

                    0:14  "With the short staffing, we've still got this massive problem with the MDOC not having enough high security facilities to house problematic and assaulted prisoners. So we're still seeing a lot of assaults on staff, assaults on other prisoners."

M-D-O-C stands for the Michigan Department of Corrections. Governor Whitmer said the pension bills had been delayed too long to be put into effect as written. She said she would consider updated legislation; however Osborn says the union doubts new bills can advance before she leaves office.