Since our inception as the certified union for all Nassau County Correction Officers and Uniformed Supervisors in 1999, this past year will go down as truly the busiest and most eventful year to date. There were many challenges and hurdles that our union was faced with, and we are proud of what we achieved and were able to accomplish in 2012. In a year that began with the unprecedented attacks on all County employees, including hundreds of layoffs of CSEA members, the closing of police precincts, and the demotions of 30 Corporals, Nassau COBA never wavered. Through our perseverance and determination, COBA was successful in getting all of the demoted Corporals reinstated by October, and even ended the year with over 40 additional Supervisory promotions. These additional promotions were needed to fill the Supervisory void that was a direct result to the voluntary retirement incentive that COBA was able to secure with the County, one that rewarded our retiring members for all of their years of hard work and dedication.

COBA also had many legal triumphs this year, most notably the Federal lawsuit ruling which barred the County from having the ability to open up our collective bargaining agreements and unilaterally slash our rights. We will continue with that perseverance and determination as we proceed in our ongoing legal battles against the NIFA wage/step freeze that has financially affected all of our members. We are cognizant of how especially crippling the wage/step freeze is to those members who are frozen in the lowest steps, and we will continue to explore every reasonable option that would get our members unfrozen from this unrealistic hardship.  

It was a year of many firsts for Nassau COBA as well, starting with the name change from the Sheriff Officers Association (ShOA) to our current name Nassau County Sheriff's Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA). Our former name was not indicative of who we are, what we do, and at times it led to confusion by some elected officials and the general public as to who our union represented.   Although this change seems minor to some, it is extremely important in helping to get our message heard loud and clear. We have also recently hired Robert Ungar, a prominent lobbyist with years of experience representing other public sector unions, to help facilitate our message to our statewide elected officials in Albany. Bob is a tremendous asset to all Nassau County Correction Officers as we lobby to get statewide bills passed that help to protect our safety and our benefits.  

Another important step in getting our message out was the creation of our new Public Education Fund called Nassau Concerned Citizens Coalition (NCCC). This new fund will help bolster our message with additional avenues to subtly educate the public about our issues. It also gives us the ability to support the political candidates and elected officials that support Correction Officers, as well as rally against those that try to destroy our livelihoods.   COBA also made a concerted effort to improving our website and internal and external communications. COBA's new website, nassaucoba.com is a good starting place for the general public to get positive information about Nassau County Correction Officers on the web, as well as a great resource tool for COBA members to get necessary updates and contract information in the private section of the website.  In addition to our website, we have also started this COBA Report which is an e-newsletter that is sent out to elected officials, businesses, community and other labor unions to help inform and educate them of the positive work that Nassau County Correction Officers do in the community on a daily basis.

In my almost 23 years with the Sheriff's Department, I have proudly witnessed on many occasions how we collectively all look out for each other in times of need. Never before was this more evident than during the recent destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed and devastated the homes and lives of over 40 of our members. Our brothers and sisters needed help, and COBA members responded! Whether it was removing debris and demolition from our brother's and sister's storm damaged homes, or hosting clothing, food or toy drives for the people in the affected areas, Nassau County Correction Officers were there to lend a hand. Just another example of the dedication and commitment that we all have to help out the ones that need it most.

Finally, in 2012 the COBA Board of Governors made the most important financial decision in our history when they voted to invest in the future of our union and purchase an office building in the East Meadow community. No longer will the member's dues be going to a lease agreement, essentially lining the pockets of the landlord and leaving our union with no financial gains from our rental expenses. Now, COBA has invested in our future by buying property and working directly in the heart of the East Meadow community that we protect.

In closing, I want to thank the COBA membership for the support and confidence that you have placed in me and the entire COBA Board of Governors this past year. I also want to thank our allies in the community, the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and the political community for your counsel and support.  It has been a very difficult and financially trying year for all Correction Officers, but our union has never faltered and met every challenge. Our fight remains the same, you are either with us or against us!   We will continue to fight with unrelenting determination on behalf of our members as we continue to work together diligently in the months and years to come. - John Jaronczyk, President