With a strike by New York State corrections officers now in its 3rd week, the State this week started taking action against workers who remained on the picket line and refused to abide by a deal struck last week to end the walkout. The state started sending out termination notices this week and canceling striking corrections officers health insurance benefits. The main sticking point is that workers want a full repeal of the HALT Act that has reduced the use of solitary confinement. They’ve also asked for safer staffing levels and less mandated overtime.
The agreement reached by the state and corrections officers’ union last week addressed some of those issues, however many workers said it didn’t go far enough.
Hundreds of striking corrections officers rallied outside the state capitol in Albany this week, along with state lawmakers including North Country State Senator Dan Stec who has repeatedly called for his colleagues in the Legislature to vote to repeal the HALT Act.
On Thursday the Hochul Administration made a direct pitch to corrections officers in hopes of convincing them to return to work. But that offer angered the officers’ union and it refused to sign off on the deal. Meantime, Senator Stec says work will continue at the State Capitol to get Governor Hochul and lawmakers to re-consider changes to the HALT-Act.