If you have ever wondered how labor lawyers and labor unions could possibly help you at your workplace, just think about how proactive they are within the corrections officers’ community in New York City. Major corrections labor unions, such as the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA), the Correction Captains’ Association, and the Assistant Deputy Wardens/Deputy Wardens Association, have been taking major actions on behalf of their members for many years now and with much success. Over the last year alone, with the chaotic environment of COVID-19 hitting correctional facilities hard, it is no wonder that unions and their lawyers are highly engaged. Here are some highlights of what labor law and labor unions can achieve together, as evidenced by the corrections unions in New York City.
Corrections Labor Year in Review: COVID Anniversary Edition
From March of last year when the COVID-19 pandemic first made a major impact across the country to its anniversary this year, the corrections labor unions and their lawyers have been helping their members by attempting to keep their workplaces safe and healthy in the following ways:
- Securing Protective Equipment—Early on during the pandemic, COBA sued to get proper protective equipment (PPE) for its members, including masks.
- Ensuring Sanitized Facilities—In that same lawsuit, COBA was able to make sure that all corrections facilities would be properly sanitized due to COVID.
- Requiring Temperature Checks—In addition, that lawsuit brought about the requirement for regular temperature checks to make sure no one with COVID-19 was working at the facilities.
- Helping to Raise Awareness for Unfair “Chronic Absence” Designations—Unfortunately, as the prisons attempted to normalize the requisite temperature checks, it led to a policy of improper “chronic absence” designations, causing corrections officers sent home for positive COVID-19 tests to have their jobs put in jeopardy through no fault of their own. With the unions and their lawyers’ help, a bill against this unfair treatment saw the light of day in the government.
- Fighting Against Triple Shifts—The three major corrections unions and their lawyers sued last April for their members having to work triple shifts. While working 24 hours straight is bad enough, doing so during a pandemic is far worse since it:
- Weakens their immune systems due to lack of sleep and lack of proper nutrition with no meal breaks, making them more vulnerable to viruses like COVID-19.
- Puts their safety and the safety of those with whom they work in danger because they are fatigued and not 100 percent in terms of proper functioning, making mistakes that could be fatal during a pandemic.
Contact a Brooklyn Labor Law Attorney
A good model for the strength, power, and influence of a labor union would be NYC’s corrections unions, such as COBA, that work with highly skilled New York labor union defense lawyers like those at JOEY JACKSON LAW, PLLC. Contact JOEY JACKSON LAW, PLLC, today at 833-563-9522 to see how he and his experienced team can help you or your union improve your working situation. With 40 years of experience, you know you can trust Joey Jackson and his team to help you through these challenging times for essential union workers.
Sources:
https://www.cobanyc.org/news
https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/04/23/corrections-unions-sue-city-for-long-shifts-lack-of-covid-19-testing-1279365
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-bill-prevent-government-employers-disciplining-workers-20201102-jrdglutgajej5g3ulowggfzfhq-story.html