ButlerCorrectionalFacilityopen,jobssaved
PEFbackedTheNewYorkState noticerequirement,allowingDOCSto “Thisisthereliefwewerepursuingin
CorrectionalOfficersandPolice closecamps,correctionalfacilityannexes oursupportofNYSCOPBAbyseekingto
BenevolentAssociation(NYSCOPBA)ina andspecialhousingunits,”saidRita intervene,”saidPEFPresidentKen
lawsuitthatresultedinkeepingButler Verga,PEFassociatecounsel.“Butleris Brynien.“ThenumberofPEFmembers
CorrectionalFacility’sminimum-security bothaminimum-andmedium-security whomayhavebeenaffectedwaslow
operationopen. facility.The12-month-noticerequirement comparedtothecorrectionalofficerswho
ThelawsuitwasfiledbyNYSCOPBAin stillapplies.” wouldhavebeentransferredorlosttheir
JuneafterthestateDepartmentof ThecasewasfirstheardattheWayne jobs.Theimportantthinginthisvictoryis
CorrectionalServicesannouncedthe CountySupremeCourtwhereNYSCOPBA maintainingapartnershipwithother
closure.Thecorrectionalofficersunion obtainedatemporaryrestrainingorder unions.Thesearedifficulttimes,andwe
filedthelawsuitonthegroundthatDOCS barringthestatefromanyfurther needtoworktogether,”Bryniensaid.
failedtogive12monthsnoticeofthe reductionsintheworkforceatButler Thesettlementdiscontinuestwo
impendingclosure.Otherwise,Butler’s untilfurthernotice. lawsuitsandprovidesthatButler’s
minimum-securityoperationwouldhave Theordercoveredalluniformedand minimum-securityoperationremain
closedOctober1,2009. civilianemployees,includingPEF open.ItalsorequiresthatDOCSprovide
PEFsupportedthelawsuitand members,atButlerMinimum.Thecase a12-monthnoticeasrequiredbythelaw.
formallysoughttointerveneinthecase. wastransferredtoAlbanyCounty,where —DeborahA.Miles
“Legislationamendedthe12-month- thejudgesignedoffonasettlement.
KUDOS—PEFRegion10CoordinatorVernettaChesimardandPEFPresidentKenBrynienposeforaphotowithsomeofthe
activistshonoredatadinner. ShownareMichaelKopkin,BernieKahn,EdDiaz,Chesimard,Brynien,CynthiaSaunders-Perryand
HalFriedman. — Photo by Richard Dillard
PowerofthepeoplehonoredinRegion10
Gettingupat6a.m.toboardabus Chesimard.“Thiseventwasoneway bankingforvariouspoliticiansand
tocampaignforaPEF-endorsed tohonorourdedicatedmembersand demonstratewhentherewasacall-to-
candidate,orattendingarallyin letthemknowjusthowmuchtheir arms,”addedCynthiaSaunders-Perry,
bitter-coldweatherdoesn’tgo volunteerworkmeanstotheregion amanagementspecialist1atthe
unnoticedinPEFRegion10. andultimatelyPEF.” OfficeofTemporaryandDisability
It’salsothesmalleverydayjobs, ClaraHenry,asocialworker Assistance.
suchasplanningmeetings, assistant3atMetroNY “Therewardsofthiseventare
performingclericaltasksandrunning DevelopmentalDisabilitiesServices numerous,”Chesimardsaid.“Notonly
errandsthatstrengthenaregionasa Office,saidtheeventreinforcedalot doesrecognizingmembersmakethem
whole. ofpositivefeelingsaboutunion feelgoodabouttheirunionwork,it
Theregionhelditsfirstrecognition participationandencouragedfurther motivatesthemtocontinuebeing
dinnerSeptember24inManhattan action. activists.Italsoencouragesnew
where200membersgatheredto “Thiswasagoodgesture,”Henry memberstoparticipate.
reflectupontheirinvolvementinthe said.“Beingrecognizedmakesyoufeel “Theunionalsohasanongoing
unionandtobeappreciated. yourcontributionstotheunionare slewofnewbattles.Withouractivists
“Ifeelveryfortunatetohave important.” onboard,wehavethevoicesweneed
memberswhoactivelyparticipate “Manyoftherecipientsgaveupa andthepowerofthepeopletowin.”
whenevertheneedarises,”saidPEF lotoftheirpersonaltimetoserveon —Deborah A.Miles
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PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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