DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT — PEF Region 8 Coordinator Lou Matrazzo (R) with John Telisky and Harry Brennan from the state Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association listen to state Assembly Member Roy McDonald tell a crowd of 100 union workers they must win Assembly support to keep Camp McGregor open. — Photo by Deborah A. Miles

Senate Majority sides with prison workers
Camp McGregor’s fate teeters on Assembly support

By DEBORAH A. MILES 
Ignoring rumors and applying pressure to members in the state Assembly is the way to stop the closure of Camp McGregor, a minimum-security prison in Wilton, according to state Assembly Member Roy McDonald.

McDonald addressed a crowd of about 100 union members at the end of February, warning them the possibility of a closure “is always on the table, until they close the books.”

He said the three unions at the facility — PEF, the Civil Service Employees Association and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association — have made progress in winning over members in the Senate, but must battle to win Assembly support.

“If you’ve learned anything, numbers count and your allies count,” McDonald said. “Don’t believe rumors, and don’t back off. If you stop paying attention for two or three weeks, you’re back on the chopping block.”

Senate support
In early March, the Senate Majority Budget Subcommittee recommended keeping Camp McGregor and Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County open.

“It took a lot of work from a lot of people to win this first battle,” Senator Thomas Libous said at a press conference in Binghamton. “There are more tough fights ahead.”

Cost efficiency matters
At the second meeting held at Camp McGregor to oppose the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) plan to close the 300-bed camp. PEF Region 8 Coordinator Lou Matrazzo rebutted DOCS officials who said the state could save $18 million a year in operating costs by closing Camps McGregor and Pharsalia, the Fulton work-release facility in the Bronx and six other medium-security prisons. 

“We know keeping McGregor open is more cost-efficient compared to other options,” Matrazzo said. “McGregor has a program that is a success. People become assets and not ex-cons when they re-enter the community. This is a model facility because of the successes of their alcohol and drug treatment programs. The state is getting its money’s worth.” 

Saving communities money
PEF leaders warned that closing the facility would adversely affect the community.

About 200 of the inmates at the McGregor camp perform community service, working more than 150,000 hours annually and saving the community $2.5 million, according to PEF Division 308 Council Leader Steve Haessly.

Inmates at Camp Pharsalia also perform more than 80,000 hours of community and conservation service.

McDonald also said lawmakers have other ways to balance the budget, and a final decision on the future of the McGregor camp would probably be announced in June. 

Union leaders are urging members to contact Assembly members asking them to pass Assembly Bill (A8698-B) that would require the state to provide 12 months notice before closing or reducing services at a correctional facility.

Communicator Homepage April 04

Inside This Issue
Features
Contract rally sizzles
Rally activists speak their minds
PEF weighing its options
Keep Fulton Corrections open
Camp McGregor’s fate depends...
Lawmakers save Middletown Psych
PEF helps elect Fields to office
Changing the world, one cow at a time

Departments
President's Message
Member's Mailbag
Nurses' Station
Retirees In Action
Members' Highlights
Back Cover Ad
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel

Union Matters
Union halts layoffs at OCF
Judge backs nurses right to back pay
Member keeps lifesaving blood flowing
Deadline nears for OT meal allowance
PEF sending first heroes into national...
Labor community helps state workers
Grant walks the walk
Reg. 1 member running to retire
Candidates sought for E. Board
Join PEF Hispanic Committee at Somos
2004 Convention Delegate Info

Save these dates:
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Somos El Futuro!
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