Dear COBA Members;

I'm happy to inform you that the Union has reached a settlement agreement with the Sheriff regarding a PERB Charge and Class Action Grievance that we filed on behalf of our Members over the use of Security/Surveillance Cameras in our facility.  

To clarify:  

The Union filed a Class Action Grievance claiming a violation of our CBA, and a PERB Charge stating that the County violated the Taylor Law when they unilaterally launched a new video surveillance system in our facility.

As you may know, two of our Members were moved from the E Visiting Unit after they allegedly committed minor infractions while being "live viewed" by an Administrator upstairs immediately after the installation of the new video monitoring system.

Those Officers issues have since been resolved but the bigger issue of how Management utilized the cameras remained.  

COBA signed an agreement settling these charges that states the following:  

A.) The County acknowledges the purpose of cameras in the Nassau County Correctional Center, and other areas within the Sheriffs Department's jurisdiction, is for security purposes;

B.) The County agrees that the "live surveillance" of a camera shall not be used as the basis to initiate discipline against NCSCOBA Members unless the underlying conduct would constitute (1) a violation of State or Federal Law; (2) serious staff misconduct: or (3) a breach of the safety and/or security of the facility; and, further, that the "live surveillance" of a camera shall not be used as the basis to initiate discipline against NCSCOBA Members for minor or technical infractions of the Rules and Regulations such as uniform deficiencies, grooming violations, or other similar misconduct involving uniforms and appearance; and  

C.) in the event an NCSCOBA Member prepares a report concerning an event captured by camera, once the video becomes available for replay, that member shall have the right to view that video, and to add an addendum to his or her report.

This is a very good win for COBA members as it protects us from what we have termed as "fishing expeditions" by Administrators.

Always in Unity;

Brian Sullivan, COBA President