Probation Officers Finally Clinch Contract with Albany County

ALBANY - Albany County probation officers represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) voted yes to ratify a contract with Albany County that took three years to negotiate. The ballots were counted December 27 at PEF headquarters. The count was 53 in favor of the deal and 24 opposed.

PEF Division 502 Council Leader Michelle Driscoll said, "This is absolutely wonderful. This is the best contract we could reach with the county."

The probation officers have been working without a contract since January 1, 2009, and turned up the heat on Albany County legislators during this past summer by holding protests and encouraging legislators to negotiate a fair and equitable contract.

The result is a pact that includes a 3 percent raise for 2009 with limited retroactivity, zero raises for 2010 through 2012, and a 2 percent salary increase in 2013. Members will also receive a $1,200 one-time payment, now due since the members voted to ratify the deal.

A significant safety issue was also addressed in the new pact. The contract directs that safety equipment will be replaced on or before it reaches its expiration date. Probation officers have said in the past, items such as bullet proof vests and mace would remain in use past expiration dates.

"We are glad to see this addition to the contract," said Assistant Council Leader Nicole Yaggle. "Our members risk their lives to keep Albany's citizens safe by monitoring and enforcing conditions of release for thousands of offenders. Now we can do our job with proper safety protection."

PEF Members Continue 19-Year Tradition to Help Others During the Holidays

ALBANY - On Saturday, December 10, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) will be reaching out to share the spirit of the holidays by wrapping gifts for needy families and children.

Union members and their families will wrap gifts and assemble holiday baskets of food at PEF Headquarters, 1168-70 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham. Some of the gifts and food baskets will be given to children and families of local parolees who are working but financially restricted, and trying to turn their lives around.

The toys were collected from PEF members attending the PEF Region 8 holiday party and will also be donated to the Toys for Tots program and St. Margaret's Children Center in Albany.

"This marks our 19th year of doing something special for children during the holiday season," said PEF Region 8 Coordinator Bill Wurster. "The families of local parolees and the special-needs children at St. Margaret's have always appreciated the generosity of our members. This has become a wonderful and worthwhile tradition. PEF is pleased to make a difference for children, especially at this time of the year."

WHO: New York State Public Employees Federation

WHAT: PEF members wrap gifts to distribute to needy parolee families, and St. Margaret's Children Center in Albany.

WHEN: Saturday December 10, 2011 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

WHERE: 1168-70 Troy Schenectady Road Latham, New York 12212 NOTES: Gift wrapping photo op

PEF’s Executive Board Approves Contract for Albany County Probation Officers

ALBANY, NY – The Executive Board of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) approved an agreement for Albany County probation officers at its quarterly meeting Friday, December 2.

The county’s nearly 100 PEF-represented probation officers will hold a ratification vote this month.

Their previous bargaining agreement expired December 31, 2008.

“Our members who work at the Albany County Probation Department have been working without a contract for nearly three years. This agreement meets the needs of our members so they can continue to provide important services to the residents of Albany County,” said Albany region leader Bill Wurster.

The deal for PEF Division 502 members includes a 3 percent raise for 2009 with limited retroactivity, zero raises for 2010 through 2012, and a 2 percent salary increase in 2013. Members will also receive a $1,200 one-time payment, once the contract is ratified. A significant safety issue was resolved with an addition to the contract directing that equipment will be replaced on or before it reaches its expiration date. Probation officers have said in the past, items such as bullet-proof vests and mace would remain in use beyond expiration dates.

“We were glad to see this addition,” Wurster said. “These members risk their lives to keep Albany’s citizens safe by monitoring and enforcing conditions of release for thousands of offenders. This deal, if ratified, will help them do their jobs with proper safety protection.”

Parole Officers Demonstrate at Parolee's Bronx Arraignment

BRONX, NY - Many state parole officers used their personal leave to turn out in force today at the arraignment of parolee Jonathan Lee in Bronx Supreme Court. Lee was arraigned on charges he injured and attempted to murder several state parole officers September 2 when they were attempting to arrest him for parole violations. Three officers were injured in the incident.

"Protecting the public's safety is the most important thing we do as state parole officers," said parole officer V. Antonio Perez.

"We put our safety on the line to protect you, the public, so it's important to make sure we have the resources we need to keep you safe and for us to be as safe as possible on the job."

Perez is a steward of Division 236 of the NYS Public Employees Federation, the union that represents approximately 900 state parole officers and other parole-related employees. Perez said he and the other officers attending the arraignment want to draw the public's attention to the dangers and complex responsibilities and challenges they face on the job every day, and to the possible layoff of officers November 4.

"We are the public's best investment. In supervising these convicted felons when they are released on parole, we do it all: enforcing the law, criminal investigation, social work, mentoring, and transporting prisoners. No one gives the taxpayers more professional services for their dollar than we do," Perez said.

"We need more, not fewer, officers and resources to do this job right," Perez said. "Right here in the city, less than two years ago, an officer was shot in his office, in another incident, a parole officer was taken hostage at knife point in the parole office. This is dangerous work and it's no time to be cutting our staff or raising our caseloads."

Perez said the officers also want to send a strong message to present and future parolees that "we are united and we will not tolerate assaults on parole officers. Any attacks on us or other law-enforcement officers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

Albany Probation Officers Protest Lack of Contract

ALBANY, NY - Albany County probation officers, represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), are protesting their lack of a contract tonight, August 8, 2011, at a meeting of the Albany County Legislature.

The county's nearly 100 probation officers have been trying unsuccessfully to negotiate a contract since August 2008. Their previous bargaining agreement expired December 31, 2008.

The county agreed to give other groups of its employees a 3 percent raise retroactive to January 1, 2009, a $500 bonus effective January 1 of this year, and a 2 percent pay raise effective January 1, 2012, but it has taken a harder line with its probation officers.

The officers have said they are willing to forego the $500 bonus and are just asking for the 3 percent pay raise retroactive to July 1, 2010, and the 2 percent raise increase effective January 1, 2012. So far, the county has refused to agree even to that.

The PEF members want to know why they are denied even a portion of what their co-workers were given, especially since they risk their lives to keep Albany County residents safe by monitoring and enforcing the conditions of release of thousands of offenders.

"Our members who work in the Albany County Probation Department protect the safety and rights of all citizens, but their right to fair compensation is not being respected. If it were, they would have settled this contract long before now," said Albany region PEF leader Bill Wurster.