The following statement was issued by PEF President Wayne Spence on July 18, 2024, following notification to the union from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) that two correctional facilities will close effective Nov. 6, 2024:
The decision by the State of New York to close Great Meadow and Sullivan Correctional Facilities will have a significant impact on the more than 100 PEF members who work at those two facilities. In addition, PEF represents about 100 more hard-working professionals at nearby Woodbourne and Washington Correctional Facilities, who will possibly be impacted by these closures.
These men and women must now confront the hardships associated with transferring to a new job or possibly losing a job due to lack of seniority, as well as potentially uprooting their families, finding new schools for their kids, and a host of other stressful situations associated with sudden changes to their employment.
PEF is committed to assisting each member who wishes to secure a new position within DOCCS, according to the terms set forth in our collective bargaining agreement with the State. We will utilize all available resources to facilitate the process and ensure as smooth a transition as possible. The union will be present at meetings that DOCCS will soon schedule at each facility to talk to impacted members. Our Health and Safety department will conduct Workplace Violence Assessments and support any staff who may be transitioning into different work environments to make sure any transition is as safe as possible.
There is never a good time to find out your job will undergo significant changes, but this is when Union Strong is more than just a slogan. Together, we will navigate this difficult time so that PEF members can get back to doing what they do best — deliver public services to New Yorkers when they need them most.
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Note: Impacted PEF members have been sent an email with additional information about next steps and support available. If you did not receive it, contact your regional office and ask to speak to your field representative.