Dear PEF President Spence,

As we begin the New Year, NYS Parole Officers seek better representation, benefits and retirement parity with our brother and sister NYS Correction Officers and NYS Institution Safety Officers. In order for this to happen, we must join forces with New York's Independent Law Enforcement Union, NYSCOPBA.

Currently, Tier 4 Parole Officers are eligible for retirement after 30 years of service at age 55. To make matters worse, Tier 6 Parole Officers are eligible for retirement after 30 years of service at age 63. While Correction Officers and Institution Safety Officers are eligible for retirement after 25 years of service at any age with full benefits. 

In regards to salary, as of 2022 a grade 21 NYSCOPBA member's salary starts at $80,831 and increases to $98,009 after 7 years of service. While a grade 21 PEF member's salary starts at $71,496 and increases to $90,657 after 7 years of service.

Unlike NYSCOPBA, a PEF member's longevity pay does not increase their salary. While a NYSCOPBA member's longevity pay increases their salary to $103,085 after 10 years, $107,551 after 15 years, $113,116 after 20 years and $118,094 after 25 years of service.  

https://goer.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/11/nyscopba-salary-schedules-2016-2023-bu-01.pdf

https://goer.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/10/pef-salary-schedules-2019-2023.pdf

In closing, we strongly encourage PEF leadership to conduct a union-run election for Parole Officers to break from PEF and to instead affiliate with NYSCOPBA. We know this is possible since PEF leadership allowed a local representing office workers and technicians at the Eastern Niagara Hospital to break from PEF and to instead affiliate with the healthcare workers union 1199 SEIU.

https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/union-ditches-members-and-rules/

In Solidarity,

New York State Parole Officers