The tug-of-war between New York’s prison officers and the state is intensifying. With the strike entering its third week, the consequences for prison employees are becoming increasingly severe: layoffs are underway, and healthcare coverage is being revoked for those who continue with the protest.
Yesterday, the commissioner of the Department of Correction and Community Supervision DOCCS, Daniel Martuscello, along with the commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Jackie Bray, outlined the situation in a press conference. According to reports, about ten employees have already been fired, and thousands of workers still on strike could lose their healthcare coverage in the coming hours.
The established rules are clear: anyone who misses ten consecutive workdays without justification will be considered dismissed. Additionally, the revocation of the insurance plan will affect not only the strikers but also their dependents, further exacerbating the impact of the protest.
The strict measures implemented by the government are starting to yield results. In six of the 38 prisons affected by the protests, the prison officers have returned to duty, although the strike continues in 32 of the 42 facilities in the Empire State.
Martuscello explained that they had “tried to work with the unions from the beginning to find a solution, but without success.” He also stated that they recognized the hard work and challenges faced by their employees, and that’s why they had initiated mediation with an independent third party to better understand their demands.
The commissioner himself visited some of the detention facilities to gather the concerns of the staff. One of the most evident issues is the shortage of personnel. However, the strike has been deemed “illegal” by Governor Kathy Hochul, based on the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from abstaining from work.
In addition to the disciplinary consequences, the protest is also costing the state a significant amount. So far, $25 million have been spent to address the emergency, but if the situation persists, the cost could rise to $106 million per month. According to current law, the government could impose sanctions on the “dissidents” equal to the expenses incurred.
Still, despite the tension, an agreement may be close. DOCCS and the union representing the officers, the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association NYSCOPBA, have reached an agreement with a mediator, which will only be implemented when the strikers return to work.
The mobilization has highlighted a problem that goes beyond the current protest: the chronic staff shortage in New York’s prisons. Correctional officers are complaining of unbearable working conditions, with grueling shifts and increasing violence within the facilities.
The enactment of the HALT Act, which has reduced the use of isolation, has worsened the situation, leading to a rise in assaults and putting additional pressure on staff. The state has temporarily responded with extraordinary measures, such as the deployment of the National Guard, but the root causes of the crisis still appear to be unresolved.
