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Union responds to Greene prison call center

Jan 13, 2012 12:04 am
Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue responded to the story reported in the WGXC Newsroom and many other outlets about the opening of Dept. of Motor Vehicle Call Center at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie. Donahue represents the sort of folks who are not in prison and who might work jobs at call centers. "While not a new program, using prisoners to do the work of Department of Motor Vehicle employees is a bad idea generally and even worse considering the current economy," Donohue said in a press release. "At a time when thousands of New York families are struggling to find jobs and pay their bills, New York State has decided to help prisoners develop 'marketable skills' rather than make appropriate and necessary jobs available to law abiding citizens who would then pay their taxes, spend their paychecks and contribute in the local community. CSEA can only remain skeptical about claims of taxpayer savings from this scheme when security and close supervision costs are considered."