ON THE SAME SIDE — Region 8 Coordinator Lou Matrazzo speaks to Assembly-member James Tedisco while PEF's L-M Chair for DOCS Tom Donahue talks with Assembly Member Teresa R. Sayward before a January meeting in Wilton with other union members and lawmakers who oppose the proposed closure of Camp McGregor. — Photo by Deborah A. Miles

Lawmakers, union aim to save Camp McGregor 
State plan puts prison workers, programs on the chopping block

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Union leaders and members are banding together and planning strategies to save jobs after the Pataki administration announced in late January the closings of three prison facilities and staff reductions at six others. 

The state claims rehabilitation programs for nonviolent offenders will create enough space within the system to justify the closures and save $18 million a year in operating costs, according to a plan announced by state Commissioner of Correctional Services Glenn Goord.

The facilities targeted for closure include two minimum-security camps — McGregor located in Wilton in Saratoga County and Pharsalia in Chenango County — with shutdown dates scheduled during the state’s next fiscal year that begins April 1. The Fulton work release facility located in the Bronx would also be closed.

Medium-security prisons where jobs would be cut and beds eliminated include Cape Vincent and Watertown in Jefferson County; Riverview in St. Lawrence County; Orleans in Orleans County; Marcy in Oneida County; and Collins in Erie County.

PEF estimates a total of more than 50 members would be affected by the plan. There are no members affected at Collins.

Jobs, notice a priority
“The state did not give any of this information to PEF or the other unions at the 2004-05 budget briefing,” said PEF President Roger Benson. “This issue will be a priority for PEF’s budget work group. We will work with the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) management to minimize the effects of these management actions on PEF members.”

He also said the union is concerned the state is hiding plans for closure of state facilities under the broader category of “bed reductions.”

“This has happened at the Office of Children and Family Services and at DOCS during the current fiscal year,” Benson said. 

“We support the continued provision of the services associated with any facility slated for closure and we propose the state provide a minimum of one year’s notice for the closure of any facility. We will demand that all employees in closure facilities have the opportunity to continue employment with the state,” Benson said.

Inmate population declines
PEF’s statewide labor-management chair for DOCS, Tom Donahue, said the reduction plan was in a previous budget and is being acted upon now because of a declining prison population.
“The downsizing plan for these facilities was not announced in the $99.8 billion Executive Budget the governor submitted for fiscal 2004-05,” he said. 

Referring to a report from prison officials, Donahue said more than 56,000 inmates in New York have earned early release since 1995. The current statewide prison population is roughly 65,000 and is expected to drop to 64,000 by March 31, 2005. If the planned closures go into effect, Donahue said he expects affected workers to be reassigned according to seniority.

McGregor members react
“The news of the closure came as a shock,” said Dominick Commisso, PEF Division 308 assistant council leader at McGregor. “We found out at an emergency meeting.”
Commisso said closing McGregor would affect four PEF members, and 10 vacant items would also be lost. The facility would lose 300 of its 850 beds.

Of the 300 inmates who would be affected by this closure, Commisso said 90 are currently undergoing alcohol and substance abuse treatment, and may not be able to receive treatment elsewhere.

The remaining 200 inmates perform community service.
“This would also have an impact on the families and communities,” he said.
“Closing the camp will affect people from Warrensburg to Lake George,” added Council Leader Steve Haessly. 

He said McGregor assigns crews of inmates through one of the rehabilitation programs, to clear and clean hiking trails. These crews — 10 inmates and one corrections officer — are responsible for maintaining the grounds and providing the landscaping in 17 cemeteries in Wilton. They also paint schoolrooms, saving the school district hundreds of thousands of dollars.

On an annual basis, Haessly said these crews work more than 150,000 hours and save the community $2.5 million.

“Taking these inmates out of this program will hurt those in the program and will definitely hurt the area,” Haessly said. “If they close the minimum-security facility, the next step will be closing the medium-security facility. We fear the state will try that too.”

Lawmakers back unions
In an effort to stop the closure of McGregor, PEF and other unions representing the staff called on legislators from the Senate, Assembly and county officials to attend a special meeting in Wilton at the end of January.

Sen. Hugh Farley, Assembly members Teresa R. Sayward, James Tedisco, Roy McDonald and others vowed to do as much as they could to keep McGregor from closing. They spoke about the failings of early release, the financial setback communities would face in having to provide or upgrade treatment programs and the possibility of more violence in communities.

PEF Region 8 Coordinator Lou Matrazzo added, “I agree with the elected officials that the closure of the McGregor minimum-security facility is bad public policy, bad fiscal policy and bad corrections policy. 

“We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters from the Civil Service Employees Association and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association as well as our friends in the political arena to show DOCS and the Pataki administration that the prudent course is to rescind the closure, and put the interests of the citizens of New York first.”

Communicator Homepage March 04

Inside This Issue
Features
PEF tells lawmakers to keep
Court rules grievance denial
Battle for Middletown Psych Center
PEF rejects state’s contract offer
Take the contract pledge
Saving Camp McGregor
Shadow agencies undercutting trust
Parole rule changes spark concerns

Departments
President's Message
Member's Mailbag
PS&T Contract Update
Nurses' Station
Member Mobilization
Health Notes
Retirees In Action
Back Cover Ad
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel

Union Matters
PEF victory allows Downstate nurses
State lagging to help its 9/11 ‘heroes’
Struggle to save members at OCFS
WTC recovery worker still sick, hurting
PEF political volunteers get out the vote
Nurses set Lobby Day for May 4
Mobilizer conference, workshops
Vacant PEF Board seat filled
Attention Veterans

Save these dates:
April 21-25
Somos El Futuro!
The annual weekend conference in Albany of the Caucus of NYS Hispanic and Puerto Rican Legislators
For more information, to volunteer, or make reservations for the reception, call Helen Brooks at the PEF Legislative Office, 1-800-724-4997.

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