Norman Seabrook
President, New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent
Association, Inc.
Norman Seabrook is president of the New York City Correction
Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA) Inc., an 11,000 member municipal
labor union that is one of the two largest law enforcement unions in New
York City. President Seabrook represents Correction Officers, the largest
group of employees in New York City’s jails, which is by far the
largest municipal jail system in the world.
President Seabrook, 42, became a Correction Officer in 1985. He was the oldest son in a family of six boys and two girls and was raised by his mother. Throughout his youth, Mr. Seabrook worked at various jobs. Simultaneously, he was a student at James Monroe High School in the Bronx and a student at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Empire State College.
Correction Officer Seabrook was assigned to two facilities on the famed Rikers Island. They were the Adolescent Reception and Detention Center and the George R. Vierno Center. He also was assigned to the Bronx House of Detention for Men and the Bronx Courts as well as to the very selective and prestigious Emergency Response Unit.
Wins “Long-Shot” Election
After eight years of law enforcement as a Correction Officer,
having held no union posts, Officer Seabrook became disenchanted with
COBA’s leadership and began a two-and-one-half year campaign for
the union presidency while working full-time as a Correction Officer.
In June 1995, he defeated the well-entrenched incumbent and four other
candidates in an election in which he was seen as a long-shot. He attributes
his victory to his mother, who advised “You can do whatever you
want to if you focus on others. If you’re just doing it for yourself,
you won’t be able to.” Following this advice, President Seabrook
accomplished a great deal during his first four-year term and was reelected
in 1999 by an overwhelming margin. His initial two goals were to make
Correction Officers’ salaries and benefits equal to those of police
officers and to make the lives of Correction Officers’ widows and
children more comfortable.
Before President Seabrook took office, Correction Officers were invisible to most New Yorkers because they dealt with detainees and sentenced offenders of one year or less at city correction facilities. Because Correction Officers were hidden, their contracts were grossly deficient in benefits and in wages. Through tireless effort, in 1998, President Seabrook negotiated a contract that gave Correction Officers more than Police Officers received under their contract, which was negotiated by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. Also, as COBA president, Mr. Seabrook had a number of initiatives enacted into law in Albany. Four are widely acknowledged to be the most significant pieces of legislation passed during the entire history of the NYC Department of Correction, which was founded in 1895. They are the Variable Supplement Fund Bill, the Heart Bill, the ¾ Disability Bill and the Feces Bill.
Vows to Help Widows and Children of Correction Officers
COBA’s Widows’ and Children Fund was created by President
Seabrook shortly after he took office. The fund was created to alleviate
the financial burden to the families of Correction Officers who lost their
lives while serving. It supplements families’ incomes during the
financially burdensome holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The fund
provides numerous Christmas presents and schedules day trips to amusement
parks and sports events throughout the year for these families marked
by tragedy.
Receives Countless Honors
President Seabrook’s hard work and natural leadership
ability has afforded him many honors. In 2000, he was appointed to be
the Chairman and Spokesperson of the Uniformed Forces Coalition. As such,
he negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement for Correction Officers,
Firefighters, Sanitation Workers, Police Detectives, Police Captains,
Police Sergeants, Police Lieutenants and all other uniformed city employees
with the exception of Police Officers. In 2001, Governor Pataki appointed
President Seabrook to the three-person, bipartisan Task Force to Reform
New York State and New York City Elections. Also, in 2001, Mayor-elect
Bloomberg appointed President Seabrook to his transition team. President
Seabrook’s numerous responsibilities included interviewing and evaluating
potential city commissioners and political aides to the new mayor. The
COBA leader is also Vice-Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Committee and
a member of the Board of Governors of the Pius XII Foundation.