August 6, 2026 — Leadership at PEF and staff members from PEF Health & Safety conducted walkthroughs of Greene Correctional Facility and Coxsackie Correctional Facility on July 9 and July 13. The walkthroughs were conducted in response to concerns raised during membership meetings regarding safety in both facilities.
DOCCS facilities across the state are experiencing an increase in exposure incidents, harassment, assaults and other hazards. As part of PEF’s ongoing efforts to address these issues, walkthroughs are a useful tool in helping address problem areas, support members, and highlight critical issues to agency leadership and management.
At Greene Correctional Facility, PEF’s summary report noted several troubling findings, including an overall lack of cleanliness. Walls, floors, doors, and other surfaces were marked with unknown substances – which may indicate the presence of bodily fluids or chemicals. Several bags of property belonging to incarcerated individuals, as well as trash, food and staff belongings were piled in halls. In certain areas, like the Residential Rehabilitation Unit (RRU)—a separate housing unit used for therapy and rehabilitation programs for individuals unable to be among the general population—walkthrough participants noted a burning odor and mild haze, burned paper remnants, poor ventilation, extreme temperatures and unsanitary conditions.
By comparison, Coxsackie Correctional Facility seemed cleaner. PEF Region 8 Coordinator Danielle Bridger and PEF Statewide Health and Safety Committee Co-Chair and Region 9 Coordinator Gabriela Franklyn participated in the tour with PEF Health and Safety staff. The summary report noted that overall airborne toxin and smoke incidents were down, but incidents of chemicals being thrown on to staff have risen seven-fold over the past six months. Additionally, staff noted that most programs and classes seemed to be running without issues. Corrections Officers, National Guard and staff members are equipped with body-worn cameras and Personal Alarm Devices. The superintendents and managers on duty change frequently and communication channels between the union and facility management seem to be open and working as intended. That is not happening statewide at all DOCCS facilities. Some areas at Coxsackie did have broken glass in doors and windows.
At both facilities, staff reported high temperatures in different areas, staffing shortages in each sector, including nursing, housekeeping, and among Corrections Officers. Additionally, a lack of security was noted either due to constantly rotating National Guard members or due to National Guard members not understanding their role within the facility.
Following both walkthroughs, PEF held a membership meeting with members from both facilities to talk about the findings, solutions and next steps.
At the meeting, PEF President Wayne Spence asked members to bring forward ideas for helping to solve some of the most pressing issues, including how PEF can advocate for teachers at DOCCS to have safer programming.
“I believe that is the question to be asked,” said President Spence. “Can we do this safely? I think we can run the program, but we just can’t run it the same way we did before there was a strike.”
Several members offered solutions, including focusing on programs that support teaching the general population rather than those in the RRU. By switching the focus, some members say that in addition to prioritizing the individuals who need to finish their programming and who are trying to rehabilitate themselves, the switch would make facilities safer by not trying to prioritize programming in situations where staffing is low.
PEF Statewide Health and Safety Co-Chair and Region 3 Coordinator Leisa Abraham was present for the Greene walkthrough. She called it disturbing and said that these kinds of issues are preventing members at DOCCS from doing their jobs well.
“I think the thing people forget—and you could hear it today—people, as hard as it is, they really want to do a good job. And a good job to them is providing good training and education and services to the I/Is (incarcerated individuals) under their charge,” said Abraham. “And what I found really interesting was in this forum people were like, ‘I can’t do my job and I really want to do it’ so that people can leave. I found that encouraging and really sad because DOCCS doesn’t seem to put forth all the resources necessary to keep people safe.”
Health and safety advocacy continues to be a priority for PEF, especially in DOCCS facilities. Following the meeting, PEF Statewide Health and Safety Committee Co-Chair and Region 9 Coordinator Gabriela Franklyn said that the key is identifying what that advocacy looks like.
“Whether that means showing up at a meeting, or participating in political actions or rallies,” said Franklyn, “it is key to develop and train our stewardship and Executive Board so that they know our policies in terms of DOCCS, but also know the collective bargaining agreement so that they can be expedient in advocating for members’ needs.”
PEF plans to look into some sort of improved reporting system for assaults and health and safety issues at facilities. In addition, a communication platform is needed so OMH staff assigned to Corrections Based Operations (CBO) can efficiently share reports with labor and management. Any lag in reporting prevents timely responses and leads to inaccurate records. It is also imperative that members feel encouraged and supported by the union when they do report anything. Concerns about retaliation by management or incarcerated individuals are very real.
Those are some of the ideas that will be on the table when PEF brings together union leaders and DOCCS management at the DOCCS Statewide Labor-Management conference, scheduled for Sept. 23-25 in Albany.
