Both NYS Parole Officers and NYS Correction Officers work for the same department and with the same population, however, they have different retirement benefits.
Parole Officers represented by the Public Employees Federation (PEF) have to work 30 years and retire at age 55 (Tier 4) or work 30 years and retire at age 63 (Tier 6) in order to receive a full retirement pension.
Meanwhile, Correction Officers represented by the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) may retire at any age with full benefits after 25 years of creditable service.
This year, a bill backed by Republicans in the New York State Assembly would create an optional 20-year retirement plan for state Correction Officers.
For far too long, Parole Officers have been held hostage by PEF and treated like civilians. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will.
In order to obtain retirement parity with our brother and sister Correction Officers, it's imperative that Parole Officers, Senior Parole Officers and Parole Revocation Specialists continue opting out of PEF so that we have a stronger chance of joining NYSCOPBA.
Joining NYSCOPBA would give Parole Officers more leverage to obtain a 25 and out retirement incentive since all NYSCOPBA members enjoy this retirement benefit.
Please note that NYSCOPBA will not raid PEF! Collectively, we have to break away from PEF on our own first prior to joining NYSCOPBA.
If you're an active Parole Officer, Senior Parole Officer or Parole Revocation Specialist, click here https://www.optouttoday.com/pef to stop paying PEF dues.
In solidarity,
New York State Parole Officers