Hoffa Statement on New York School Safety Agent Legislation

Hoffa Statement on New York School Safety Agent Legislation

December 19, 2005

Officer Vivian Samuels, a New York City Police Department Safety Officer, died tragically December 15 after being struck in the face while on duty at a school-sponsored dance.

The death of Officer Samuels demands attention from the governor and state legislators, who must act now to rectify the inequities in the injury leave and disability benefits provided to peace officers in this great city.

It is outrageous that the officers who are willing to give their lives to protect and defend our most precious asset—our hope for the future—our children—in New York City schools are regarded as second-class citizens.

Officer Samuels deserved better. As a 24-year veteran School Safety Agent and a Teamster, she was dedicated to her job, the students and the community. Her job was to protect students, faculty and visitors in the school and designated school safety zones, and she did so with great pride. The Teamsters submit that New York School Safety Agents deserve the respect and fairness given to other law enforcement officers in this city.

We should reward officers like Vivian Samuels, who are dedicated to ensuring that our children have a safe learning environment to prepare for their future and the future of this country.

The New York State Legislature has previously recognized the inherent risks associated with similar professions, such as paramedics, corrections officers, police and firefighters by granting ľ annual pay for those forced to retire due to job related injury. The other titles mentioned above also receive extended benefits with no charge to leave after assaults on the job. This same respect has not been afforded to school safety agents.

All the Teamsters stand in solidarity with Carl Haynes, President of Local 237 and all the members of the local union in their call for swift action by Governor Pataki to remedy this unjust situation. Haynes and Greg Floyd, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 237 also are calling for ruling authority on injury benefit decisions to be moved from the NYPD to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, a neutral body for the city charged with fairly handling these types of decisions.

Governor Pataki lost no time in calling for a special legislative session to enact stronger legislation for crimes against police officers in the wake of the tragic deaths of two police officers in recent weeks—which we applaud.

Teamsters say all those who serve and protect deserve fair treatment and the peace of mind in knowing their own families will be protected if they are injured while keeping our communities safe.