TWU Local 106 Standing Strong with the Striking New York State Corrections Officers at Sing Sing

The officers of TWU Local 106 were all incredibly proud and humbled to go out and stand with the toughest of the tough, and show the striking NY State Correction Officers at the Sing Sing State Penitentiary our support and respect for the job that they do. We know that all Correction Officers have the hardest job in the world and that they’re doing a job most Americans would never do, which is why we gathered the troops of Local 106 along with TWU Local 2001 President, Pat Howard, Local 1400 Vice President, Matt Wright and TWU Local 591 Member Amanda Sohl and headed up to Ossining NY to let these great men and women know that we support them and believe in their just fight to make changes so they may work in a safe environment. What we learned from talking to the Correction Officers is that the prisoners have more rights than they do and the reason for the strike was not about wages, it’s about not being forced to continue to have to work 24 hour shifts several days a week with no end in sight.

We know that a state mediator today, issued an agreement to settle the strike but all the Correction Officers we spoke to did not think the agreement was good enough and did not give them the reforms they really needed. I urge you to call your Local New York State Senator and Assembly person and tell them to go to these prisons and speak to the officers to get their side of the story and to see what they are dealing with. Lastly, keep these fine men and women in your prayers as they need it more than you can imagine. Philip Valenti President