SPRINGFIELD - Unionized health care workers at 27 Illinois prisons are mulling whether to go on strike over wages.

The 350-plus workers are employed by Wexford Health Sources of Pennsylvania, which recently received a two-year, $210 million extension in its contract to provide health care to inmates within the state's sprawling prison system.

The health care workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union say they want a wage increase similar to a 4 percent boost the union recently inked with a different prison health care contractor.

"Wexford should not have any difficulty meeting the pay and benefit levels of its competitors," AFSCME spokesman Buddy Maupin said Monday.

The company, which has given embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich $38,000 in campaign contributions since he took office, did not immediately respond to questions.

The Illinois Department of Corrections said the matter, for now, is between the company and the union.

"We hope they come to an agreement," said Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp.

It isn't the first time AFSCME has tangled with Wexford.

Three years ago, union workers threatened to strike, raising the possibility that management-level health care workers would have to provide care to inmates.

State officials averted the 2005 strike by firing Wexford and bringing in a new company. Wexford eventually was re-hired and received an extension to its contract in late December worth an additional $5 million over its previous deal.

AFSCME workers are voting this week on whether to go on strike. A federal mediator may be called in to broker a new deal. Under terms of the contract, the union must give ten days notice before employees can walk off the job.

Schnapp said prison officials are developing contingency plans in the event a strike does occur.