BOLDEST
BLOG
APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. At COBA, we know the importance of this month. There have been 87 sexual assaults committed by inmates on Rikers since 2021 and 66% of the victims are COs. COBA’s Sexual Assault Bill (A1606/S5582) aims to make sexual assaults of NYC Correction Officers a FELONY.
MAJOR COBA LEGISLATIVE VICTORY: NY STATE LEGISLATION IMPROVES TIER 6 & CF-22
Major COBA Legislative Victory: NY State Legislation Improves Tier 6 & CF-22 When the Tier 6 pension system was formed in 2012, it also created an unfair division in our public pension system that provided better pension benefits to public sector workers who were hired prior to 2012, while providing diminished benefits for workers hired after 2012. COBA, along with many of New York’s public sector unions, led a vigorous advocacy campaign, calling on the Governor and the legislature to make meaningful pension reforms, to “Fix Tier Six.” As a result of our efforts, we are very pleased to report that the Governor’s new budget, which was just passed by the state legislature, includes long overdue changes to the Tier 6 pension system. For example, all Tier 6 member’s pension benefits will now be based on their three-year final average salary instead of their five-year final average salary, Additionally, for …
DESI SOCIETY FOOD PANTRY EVENT
COBA President Benny Boscio was honored as a special guest at the recent DESI Society event for their food pantry. The pantry resources will be available for all officers and staff. COBA is very proud of the work the DESI Society does and we are grateful to be a part of their mission to support our fellow officers. BACK TO BLOG
DOMINICAN DAY PARADE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99IcIlZI_0Y&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Frzo.skj.mybluehost.me%2F&feature=emb_imp_woyt The Dominican Day Parade last week was a great celebration of culture and heritage! Our sincere thanks go out to all of the officers who attended! BACK TO BLOG
RISK ASSESSMENT
Did you know that New York State WVPL mandate employers perform a risk assessment with the respective unions pursuant to workplace violence? Help COBA help you! Report any physical plant issues, deficiencies, or damage through a WVPL complaint form and/or by contacting your facility delegate or a COBA Board Member. Please reach out to Board Member Glenn Morgan and see below for more specific information regarding reportable physical conditions. BACK TO BLOG
PUNITIVE SEGREGATION
Since taking office, President Benny Boscio and his administration have advocated for safer working conditions for our members, including the reinstatement of Punitive Segregation. Thanks to COBA’s tireless advocacy we were proud to stand with Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Louis Molina in their decision to support this crucial tool for maintaining safer jails. After many meetings and discussions with Mayor Adams and Commissioner Molina, COBA successfully highlighted the importance of Punitive Segregation to the well-being of our Correction Officers and the safety of our jails. And after years of failed leadership and policies under the previous administration, COBA is pleased to see a Mayor and Commissioner willing to listen to and work with COBA and our members. While getting Punitive Segregation reinstated was an important first step for the Mayor and his Administration in achieving safer jails, rest assured COBA will not stop advocating for better working conditions for …
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK
Thank you, Mayor Eric Adams for making it a point to express your gratitude to our Corrections Officers for all that they do to protect our jails! We are proud to work with you and your administration. Mayor Eric Adams joined COBA last week as we celebrated our Corrections Officers at GMDC Wellness Center for Correctional Officer and Employee Appreciation Week. It was a wonderful time honoring our Boldest! BACK TO BLOG
COBA PRESIDENT BENNY BOSCIO ON STREET SOLDIERS ON FOX 5 NY
https://youtu.be/TYpELrJT9lg COBA President Benny Boscio was featured as part of an in-depth interview with FOX5NY & Hot 97’s Lisa Evers. In the interview, President Boscio discussed the condition of Riker’s Island and noted the “eight years of neglect” from the prior administration as the reasoning behind heightened tensions at the jail. He noted that lack of instructors, rise of violence and assault on correctional officers and inmates, discussing how inmates have been empowered and emboldened by lack of support. “We’ve been set up to fail,” he said to Lisa Evers, discussing the changes to gang policies under the new commissioner. Increased need for staffing and officers at Rikers Island was named as a solution for some of the problems at the jail, but President Boscio noted withdrawal of support and advocacy and a lack of resources as part of creating a dangerous situation for officers and inmates. BACK TO BLOG
COBA PRESIDENT BENNY BOSCIO’S TESTIMONY BEFORE THE NYC COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ON WNBC NEWS 4
Discussing the future of Rikers Island, President Boscio called for a need of 2,000 additional officers in order to uphold the standards of the jail. He noted that officers are at their breaking point, identifying increased staffing as a solution to the issues at hand. Watch COBA President Benny Boscio Testify Before The NYC Council Committee On Criminal Justice BACK TO BLOG
COBA SECURES LANDMARK LEGISLATION FOR OFFICER BENEFITS RELATED TO COVID-19 ABSENCES
With the advent of COVID-19, COBA leadership knew that they had to take action on behalf of the correction officers, both for the sake of their careers, their health, and the health of their families. Across the nation, COBA saw the devastating effects of the pandemic and watched organizations attempt to mitigate the impact of the virus to varying degrees of success. COBA knew that it was essential to take action in a swift and meaningful way — New York was, in fact, one of the states most affected by COVID. Working with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, COBA was able to help implement legislation that prevented public employers — like the New York City Department of Correction — from taking any disciplinary or retaliatory action against public employees for their COVID-19-related absences. This means that employees can take the time they need to keep other officers and inmates healthy …