New Contract Reinforces Public Safety in Adams County
A new union contract is delivering meaningful gains for correctional officers in Adams County by strengthening not only wages and benefits but improving quality of life for officers on and off the job.
“We got a 15% raise over three years — that’s the highest increase yet,” said Correctional Officer and AFSCME Local 2637 President Marissa Seger.
“The contract is for the people who work here, who make this place go. Without the contract, I don’t know where we’d be right now.”
Behind that 15% increase was months of member-driven organizing and negotiation. Local 2637 members mobilized and built a contract campaign that kept officers informed, involved, and united at every step — from proposal meetings to bargaining updates and ratification.
Officers signed up new members, showed solidarity inside the facility, and made it clear they were prepared to stand together to protect what they had earned. That unity allowed the negotiating team to draw a firm line, ensuring no changes to their health care while also delivering historic wage gains.
For Sergeant Steve Hill, who has worked at the facility for 23 years, the agreement represents the continuation of steady progress at Adams County Prison through collective bargaining.
“I couldn’t fathom working here without the union — no way, shape, or form,” Hill said.
When Hill began his career, he earned $11.63 an hour. He has seen wages triple during his time — growth he credits to their AFSCME Strong local. He says in a profession where staffing levels directly impact safety, those gains matter far beyond the paycheck.
Hill says the public often misunderstands what correctional officers actually do. Inside the facility, the work of managing hundreds of inmates is demanding and complex. Officers respond to mental health crises, substance abuse issues, and other volatile situations, often during long overnight shifts.
“It’s not what everybody thinks it is,” he said.
“We’re not here to make [inmates’] time any worse than it has to be. They’re sentenced to jail, not anything else.”
Officer Zachary Atkins, Vice President of Local 2637, echoed that point: “It’s not what you see on TV. It’s long hours, it can be hard work, and it takes a lot of mental stamina to be successful here. It’s about communication and just being a human being who treats people with respect.”
With a strong contract in place, Adams County’s correctional professionals say they are better positioned to continue their mission of maintaining safety, order, and humanity inside one of the most challenging environments in public service.
