Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' corrections secretary acknowledged Wednesday that he called a staffing emergency at a maximum-security prison in response to a union grievance, a move that allows the state to require officers to continue working shifts up to 16 hours.

The El Dorado prison has experienced inmate unrest and has had several confirmed disturbances in recent months as it has struggled with staffing shortages. In June, it began to schedule its employees for 12-hour shifts, and Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood said 16-hour shifts are sometimes necessary to ensure that all critical posts...