MONTICELLO – Almost six
years without a contract is long enough, say corrections officers at the
Sullivan County Jail. Several attended Thursday’s monthly county
legislature session to make their point.
Sgt. Charles Lynch, a 14-year CO, pointed to what has been pointed out
before – turnover.
“Majority of my tenure there are more people who have left than
what it would take to fully staff a jail,” Lynch said. “These
applicants frequently take their training and work experience or leave
corrections as a whole due to the stresses of the job. I would ask that
the county legislature look at how many hired since 2004 have left and
see the staggering turnover rate.”
Recent revelations revealed that some sheriff deputies and corrections
officers have left for other law enforcement agencies, including municipal
departments.
The CSEA represents over 200 bargaining units in the Hudson Valley. `
Legislative and Political Director Chris Ludlow said with settlement of
a longstanding Westchester County impasse earlier this year, Sullivan
County is in what he termed a “shameful” position.
“Sullivan County now moves into a very unfortunate position where
we are the longest outstanding contract that we have out of all 200 county
units,”
Ludlow said, calling the legislature to act.
“I think every single legislator here should be upset about this,
should be angry and should be advocating to settle this contract as soon
as possible. These men and women, they deserve a fair contract, an equitable
contract and we ask you to stand up and fight for us.”
There was no comment from legislators during the brief legislative session.
