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UNION SUES DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OVER ‘HOSTILE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE’ WORK CONDITIONS

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A union representing New York City’s correction officers is suing the Department of Corrections over a number of “hostile and extremely unsafe” working conditions.

The suit was brought by the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association on Friday saying officers have been frequently assigned shifts that violate state law, amid a staffing shortage.

The union also alleges officers were not equipped with adequate personal protective equipment during the pandemic and were regularly denied meal breaks, bathroom breaks and access to water.

“It’s extremely unsafe to be a correction’s officer in New York City today,” said union president Benny Boscio Jr.

He notes that “staffing levels are extremely bad” and officers have been forced to work “25-plus hours, in some cases 30 hours straight.”

The union president said assaults on officers are also happening, partly because members of the same gang are being put in the same jail cells.

In a statement, Boscio added that he has “never seen such deplorable working conditions for our members — conditions that have been made even worse by the continued indifference of the top brass at our agency.”

“What was once considered a solid career path is now a daily nightmare for the men and women who work tirelessly to keep this city safe,” he said.

Former DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann left her role on May 31, amid strong criticism from Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association.

Vincent Schiraldi was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to fill the position, and even though he has been on the job for just six weeks, he agrees with most of the complaints he is hearing.

“There’s so much pent-up frustration in this place,” he said.
“Morale is very low. Violence is increasing and is already too high.”

He believes that there is not a staffing shortage, but rather, more and more people continue to call out of work because they are frustrated by the conditions.

Schiraldi has already met with Boscio and announced a new post-pandemic recovery pan for the department, with a focus on safety, getting people to work and improving conditions for the incarcerated.

A memo detailing those plans was distributed throughout the department on Friday.

LETTER FROM BENNY BOSCIO
President

Welcome to the official website of The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA). COBA is the second-largest law enforcement union in the City of New York. Our members are New York City Correction Officers, also known as New York City’s Boldest, who supervise the second-largest municipal jail system in the nation. COBA is committed to advocating for safer working conditions, wage increases, and excellent benefits for all our members.

Our website was designed to provide helpful information on the latest issues impacting our members and their families. You can also find our official union publications, news clips, and learn about upcoming events.

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STATEMENT FROM COBA PRESIDENT BENNY BOSCIO ON THE FEDERAL MONITOR'S SPECIAL REPORT RELEASED ON MAY 26, 2023

“After being appointed nearly 8 yrs ago and receiving some $20 million in consulting fees by NYC taxpayers, the latest Federal Monitor’s biased and one-sided “special report” is no different than the nearly 36 reports that came before it.

If the Monitor is interested in cherry picking data in a two week period, why then does he exclude the brazen assaults on our officers committed by repeat violent offenders in that same period? Or why does he exclude the numbers of inmates whose lives have been saved thanks to Correction Officers? The reality is that the Federal Monitor and his team have strayed very far from their original mission and this new report conveniently excludes key data showing any progress that is being made to combat jail violence, which is largely the result of the dedication and hard work of our officers serving on the frontlines.

These reports now serve only to provide politically-driven talking points for the City Council and the Board of Correction so they can continue to second guess and scapegoat our members, instead of providing oversight over the monitoring team and asking them what have they really accomplished in eight years to make our jails safer? It’s time for the Monitoring team to go!’

Benny Boscio
COBA President