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CUOMO SIGNS BILL PROTECTING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OVER COVID-RELATED ABSENCES

ALBANY — Public employees in New York are now protected from being punished for COVID-related absences.

Gov. Cuomo signed legislation Thursday that prevents government employers from dismissing or taking disciplinary or personnel actions against a public worker who fell ill with the virus.

That includes hundreds of New York City correction officers who were left with tarnished records after calling out sick amid the worst of the pandemic.

Last year, the Daily News highlighted the plight of nearly 900 correction officers who contracted the virus and had to appeal the Department of Correction’s “chronic absence” designation for missed days, which could impact promotions and other aspects of their careers.

Correction Officer Antonio Saltalamacchia, 34, who tested positive for coronavirus for more than three months in 2020 and missed dozens of days of work while dealing with related health issues, including a bout of pneumonia and asthma, detailed his plight in The News last year.

“I’m elated,” Saltalamacchia said Thursday. “I feel like this is a step forward towards something good. I’m happy that I actually spoke out and got something out of it.”

Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) introduced the measure last year in the wake of The News’ reporting, saying it was shocking to see officers punished for getting sick.

“For some workers, the idea of remote work is impossible, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our essential workforce, our first responders — police, fire, health care and corrections — just cannot do it by broadband,” Savino said.

The legislation, which retroactively covers public workers dating back to March 2020, prohibits public employers from penalizing employees who use sick leave or compensatory time to quarantine, seek medical treatment, or take other absences related to COVID.

Cuomo touted the new measure, saying it builds on other pandemic-related employee protections recently signed into law, including guaranteed paid leave for New Yorkers under mandatory or precautionary quarantine due to COVID, and guaranteed time off from work to receive the vaccine.

“No one should have to suffer a penalty for missing work because of COVID, and under this new law, every public employee in our state will get the protection they deserve — so they don’t have to face unfair consequences for doing what was necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones,” the governor said in a statement.

Union leaders applauded Cuomo, Savino and Assemblyman Peter Abbate (D-Brooklyn) for backing the bill.

“This legislation will correct the injustice experienced by over 800 of our members who were punished for taking sick leave because of their COVID-19 related symptoms,” said Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association President Benny Boscio.

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