On 1/27/21, UPOA President Powell testifies at City Council Labor Committee stating “under normal circumstances, Probation Officers’ work is challenging. COVID-19 has made the situation even more challenging. Our members work seven days a week to guarantee public safety. The members of the United Probation Officers Association in Adult and Family Services since COVID-19 hit persevered despite the safety and health challenges they faced, as they never stopped performing their core central functions and continued to provide vital services and resources to the probation clients and the community at large. ……we ask that you support the early retirement legislation as most of our members are in their 50’s and older who work under very stressful, physically taxing and dangerous conditions.

We also are requesting frequent cleaning of air vents and carpets at all our worksites.

Finally, we would like to recommend that the city post COVID 19 consider giving municipal employees the option to work remotely based on the agency operational needs as the unknown such as 911 and COVID 19 has forced us to rethink our lives as well as how we must work smarter and safer.” Read President Powell’s entire testimony.