Probation union rails at new hires

The union that represents more than 800 probation officers is accusing the city of violating civil service rules when it hired six supervisors from outside the Probation Department.

The United Probation Officers Association contends in court papers that the provisional hires — as well as the promotion of two officers who didn’t complete probationary periods — also violate the state constitution and city personnel rules.

“There are plenty of qualified, professional, and dedicated UPOA members working in Probation that are eligible and eager to fill the role of supervising probation officer,” union President Dalvanie Powell said Friday. “These provisional hires are a slap in the face to hardworking women and men who serve the city.”

Powell singled out Mayor de Blasio’s administrators for the move. “No other previous administrators have gone outside of the Department of Probation to fill promotional positions,” she said.

The union’s petition, filed in state Supreme Court, names the city, Probation Department Commissioner Ana Bermudez and Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Lisette Camilo as defendants.

The union’s lawyer, Daniel Doeschner, said the city violated the law. “They shouldn’t have gone and selected people from outside the Department of Probation,” he said.

A City Hall spokesman said the administration has not yet reviewed the lawsuit.But probation officials strive “to create an environment that offers mobility to employees,” said de Blasio spokesman Raul Contreras.