After 22 days, the state’s longest prison strike in decades has finally ended — with more than 2,000 correction officers fired after they didn’t come back to work, officials said.
State Correction Commissioner Daniel Martuscello announced the development in a Monday evening news conference with a deal that included a sign-off from the state Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association, which represents the officers.
“The strike is over,” Martuscello said with state Homeland Security Commissioner Jackie Bray. He noted it took four different agreements to end the wildcat work stoppage.
“I want you to know I heard you,” he said referring to officers. “Your safety, your family, your work life balance are important to me. I’m committed to continue to listen to your voices as we move forward.”
Martuscello said the 2,000 or so officers who were fired were those who remained on strike Monday morning. He said in all, there are roughly 10,000 officers now on the job, compared to the 13,500 before the strike — a 26% decline likely to make pre-existing staffing problems even worse.
The National Guard will remain on hand in the prisons for an undetermined period of time, as part of the plan. More than 6,000 members of the Guard have been deployed to facilities across the state.
Gov. Hochul signed an executive order Monday firing the roughly 2,000 striking officers and barring them from working for the state in the future. The order also directed an investigation of the job action, which was a violation of the Taylor Law which bars certain state employees from striking.
“My top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers — and I have been working around-the-clock to end this illegal work stoppage and restore safety in our correctional system,” Hochul said Tuesday.
Martuscello said the state would honor a March 6 memorandum which provided for a committee to review requirements of the HALT ACT limiting solitary confinement to 15 days, a 90-day suspension of HALT requirements to provide programs for inmates in solitary confinement, and 12-hour tours.
Supporters of the HALT ACT once again underscored they will fight any undermining of the state law.
“Just as Donald Trump can’t circumvent democratically enacted laws, DOCCS does not have the authority to suspend a law passed by a supermajority of New York’s legislature and signed by the Governor,” said Victor Pate of the HALT Solitary advocacy group.
“What they’re really doing is openly admitting to an unlawful violation of the HALT Solitary Confinement Law that will inflict torture, cause grave harm and even death, and worsen safety for everyone.”
The memo also contains special strike-related overtime pay and no discipline for strikers who returned, though penalties under state law for striking will remain in place. He said the department will also “pursue” scanning of legal mail for drugs and other contraband— a measure that will draw criticism from the legal community.
At least seven inmates died during the strike, including Messiah Nantwi, 22, of Harlem. A criminal investigation is underway into the circumstances around his death during an altercation with officers.
The state’s previous longest prison strike in 1979 ended after 16 days.