New York Officials Fire Over 2,000 Prison Guards for Failing to End Strike
New York officials terminated more than 2,000 prison guards on Monday for refusing to return to work after a weeks-long strike. The state declared an end to the wildcat strike, which violated a law prohibiting most public employees from striking, as enough correctional officers had returned to their posts.
"After 22 days of an illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report it is now ended," said Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello during a virtual press briefing.
The state and the guards’ union, the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, reached a new agreement over the weekend to end the strike. However, the deal was contingent on at least 85% of staff returning to work by Monday morning. Although the target was not met, Martuscello stated the state would honor some provisions of the agreement, including those related to overtime work.
National Guard Remains Deployed Amid Staffing Shortages
Martuscello confirmed that the National Guard would continue to support prison staff while the department launches an aggressive recruitment campaign to fill vacancies. Governor Kathy Hochul had deployed the National Guard to some facilities to cover for striking workers.
The commissioner noted that approximately 10,000 security staff are currently available to work in state prisons, down from 13,500 before the strike.
"Termination letters have been sent to over 2,000 officers who remained on strike. Officers and sergeants who did not have preapproved medical leave and didn’t return by this morning’s 6:45 a.m. deadline have been terminated effective immediately," Martuscello said.
Strike Began Over Working Conditions
The strike began on February 17, with guards protesting poor working conditions. Inmates have since reported deteriorating conditions in prisons due to the walkout.
A special prosecutor is also investigating the March 1 death of 22-year-old inmate Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility. Other inmates alleged Nantwi was brutally beaten by correctional officers, and 15 staff members have been placed on administrative leave following his death.
According to a court filing by the state attorney general’s office, there is "probable cause to believe" that as many as nine correctional officers were either directly involved or implicated in Nantwi’s death.
Mid-State Correctional Facility is located across the street from Marcy Correctional Facility, where six guards have been charged with murder in the December beating death of inmate Robert Brooks.
Another inmate, 61-year-old Jonathon Grant, was pronounced dead last month after being found unresponsive in his cell at Auburn Correctional Facility. It remains unclear whether staffing shortages during the strike contributed to his death.
Union Did Not Sanction the Strike
The strike was not sanctioned by the officers’ union. Two previous agreements aimed at ending the strike failed to bring enough guards back to work.
The latest deal includes a 90-day suspension of a state law provision limiting the use of solitary confinement. During this period, the state will assess whether reinstating the law poses an unreasonable risk to staff and inmate safety.
Guards will also work 12-hour shifts, and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will not discipline officers who participated in the strike if they returned by the Monday deadline.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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