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(AP) -- Illinois officials are searching some prison guards and other employees as they're leaving work.

At least seven prisons conducted shakedowns last week.

The union say the unusual checks are retaliation for whistleblowers speaking out about crowded prisons and Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to close the "supermax" Tamms lockup.

Prison officials say the searches are routine and meant to stop "movement" of contraband - from cellphones to weapons - in the prisons.

The department of corrections has the right to search employees at any time.

However, workers say they've never been patted down at the end of work and question whether officials are looking for people leaking confidential information.

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