As the government shutdown rounds out its 12th day, hundreds of United States Penitentiary McCreary workers are worried about getting paid.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, USP McCreary has 1,410 male inmates. It is located in Pine Knot, Ky.
10News spoke to some prison workers off camera, and they said they were instructed not to speak on record with media. Some workers said they got paid last Friday, and they said they do not know when they will get paid again.
The McCreary Union leader told 10News over the phone, "everyone's worried."
Robert DePriest is representing McCreary and other workers in a lawsuit filed in Federal Claims Court on Monday. He told 10News over the phone that morale among workers is low.
In town, the effect of the shutdown is noticeable.
At Drew's Barber shop, barber Kyle Ridner says some prison workers come in to get their hair cut. He says he feels bad that they aren't getting paid.
"I don't think it's fair, no, not a bit," Ridner said. "I think if you're working, you should get paid for it."
At Valero Gas Station, manager Missy Jones says prison workers come in all the time, and the shutdown isn't fair to them.
"For me, I don’t see why the government can’t come to an agreement that the wall can be funded and also these workers that are working get their paycheck, too," Jones said. "I mean there has to be something that both sides can sit down as adults and come up with a solution."
10News reached out to McCreary but has not heard back.