The union representing Rikers Island’s correction officers is suing the city for reinstating forced 12-hour shifts, arguing officials illegally used an emergency order to revive the longer tours.
The Correction Officers Benevolent Association said the city and its Department of Correction illegally launched a pilot program to revive the lengthy shifts at the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers last month.
The suit, which was filed last week, claims that the city’s use of a long-standing mayoral executive order declaring a state of emergency in the jails to make the change was illegal. While the order, which has been in place for more than four years, suspends a number of rules and regulations surrounding the city’s management of the jails and the treatment of detainees, COBA said it doesn’t give the city the power to alter officers’ shifts without first getting approval from the union…