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Nebraska prison to work with union on shift transition

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska agency has ordered state prison management to work with the guards’ union to transition a southeast prison from 12-hour to 8-hour shifts.

The Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations ruled this month for the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution to make the shift change.

Correctional Services Department Director Scott Frakes implemented the 12-hour shifts at the prison as an emergency measure after an inmate riot in 2015.

The prison still hasn’t returned to 8-hour shifts despite negotiations and agreement with the union, Nebraska Association of Public Employees Local 61.

Prison management will now have to sort out a plan with the union to transition back to shorter shifts in a safe and timely manner.

Department Spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith says there aren’t details on when or how the transition will take place.

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