New York correctional workers are striking across the state in protest of their working conditions, but Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) says the protests amount to “illegal and unlawful actions.”
Hochul argues that the strike is jeopardizing the safety of other correctional workers, prison occupants, and residents in the surrounding communities of correctional facilities amid wide staffing shortages.
Correctional workers working in at least 25 prison facilities of New York’s 42 are striking.
“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately,” Hochul said. ”We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities.”
The governor said she would use the state’s National Guard to secure the facilities if the strike is not resolved by Wednesday. She also told her administration to meet with union leaders.
“I have directed my administration to meet with union leadership to resolve this situation and have also ordered the National Guard be mobilized to secure our correctional facilities in the event it is not resolved by tomorrow,” she said. “Correction officers do difficult work under challenging circumstances, and I have consistently fought for them to have better pay and working conditions and will continue to do so.”
The state’s top corrections official has met with representatives from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the top union for corrections officers in New York. NYSCOPBA leaders said they did not sanction the strike.
“Earlier today, we met with NYSCOPBA President [Chris] Summers and his executive board to discuss a path forward to returning all facilities to normal operations and ending this illegal strike,” Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III said.
“The safety and security of the staff and incarcerated population is paramount to me,” he added. “I value the hard work and commitment of the men and women at DOCCS who have had to sacrifice time with their families due to the current staffing shortage.”
State officials said they are prepared “to take appropriate disciplinary action as necessary” if the strike does not end.
“This illegal job action involving NYSCOPBA members is causing irreparable harm to the operations of the department and jeopardizing the safety and security of their coworkers within these facilities,” he added.
DOCCS officials have said that the strikers’ demands conflict with their current collective bargaining agreement and that several would require new legislation. Demands include axing the HALT bill, which restricts how much solitary confinement can be used, and several directed at boosting recruiting.
New York Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt criticized Hochul’s mobilization of the National Guard.
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“Sending the National Guard into our subways to do the job of the NYPD, and prisons to do the job of our correction officers is not the best use of these brave NYers,” he said in a post on X. “This is a result of the failed leadership of Governor Hochul and Senate and Assembly Democrats.”
New York correctional workers were already facing dwindling numbers as the number of incarcerated people has declined 54% since 1999. At the end of last year, there were 14,095 employed corrections officers, sergeants and lieutenants. Twenty years ago, there were 21,068.