Benny Boscio’s journey as a passionate advocate for Correction Officers began in 1999, marking the start of a distinguished 25-year career within the New York City Department of Correction. During his tenure in the DOC, he was assigned to various Commands, including the Anna M. Kross Center, the Applicant Investigation Unit, the Vernon C. Bain Center, and the Bronx Courts, reflecting his versatility and commitment to the safety and well-being of Correction Officers.

His career has been characterized by a relentless drive to advocate for and defend the rights of Correction Officers, a commitment that stems from his deep sense of duty, pride, and justice for essential workers.

Benny’s contributions to the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA) have been significant and far reaching. Beginning as a Delegate for the Bronx Detention Complex in 2005, his leadership skills, labor-management expertise, and commitment to his colleagues propelled him to the COBA Executive Board as Sergeant-at-Arms in 2010. After ten years on the COBA Executive Board, Benny grew dissatisfied with the direction of the union and decided to run for president to provide stronger representation and better benefits to COBA’s members. In 2020, Benny was elected as COBA president by an overwhelming margin. In all of these leadership roles, Benny has been instrumental in mentoring Delegates, negotiating labor contracts, filing and winning grievances and arbitrations, passing legislation, and improving the working conditions of correction officers, all while overseeing COBA’s operations.

Some of Benny’s biggest accomplishments as COBA President Include:

• Negotiated the biggest raises for Correction Officers in over 15 Years! 18.77% over 5 Years, along with pensionable retention bonuses and guaranteed post awards.
• In 2020, after former Mayor de Blasio threatened to delay COBA Members’ raises and retro payments which they were owed from the previous contract, Benny won an Arbitration Award securing raises and retro pay owed to all active members.
• Under Benny’s leadership, COBA made significant dental, optical, and prescription drug benefits upgrades for all active members.
• In conjunction with the Joey Jackson Law Firm, COBA won the most OATH dismissals in COBA’s history, won the most back pay ever for Correction Officers (over $5 Million) and secured the most reductions of MOCs to CDs than ever.
• Passed state legislation that prohibits the DOC from disciplining Correction Officers for Covid-19 related absences.
• Passed state legislation that provides child care leave credit for any Correction Officer who took up to a year in leave time to care for their new child.
• Passed state legislation restoring gun carry rights for retired Correction Officers in restricted and sensitive areas.
• Helped pass the first major modifications to the CF-22/Modified Tier 3 (Tier VI) pension plan to enhance pension benefits for all correction officers hired after 2012.
• Introduced legislation which for the first time, would make the sexual assaults of NYC Correction Officers a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

Benny’s leadership has delivered extraordinary results for NYC’s Boldest during the most challenging and extraordinary times in COBA’s history. As a testament to his outstanding leadership and unprecedented accomplishments, COBA Members overwhelmingly re-elected Benny to a second term as COBA president in 2024.