Strike at New York State Correctional Facilities Entering Week 2, Safety Concerns Remain High

As of Friday, day five of the ongoing strikes and protests at dozens of New York state correctional facilities, the situation remains unresolved.

On Thursday, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel Martuscello issued a memo stating that no disciplinary actions would be taken against workers who returned to their posts by midnight Friday. However, it remains unclear how many corrections officers, if any, took up the offer, as Spectrum News 1 is still awaiting clarification from DOCCS.

The union representing state prison workers, NYSCOPBA, has stated that it did not authorize the strikes, and officials have yet to determine how many officers have returned to work. In an effort to encourage staffing, DOCCS is offering a 2.5-hourly overtime pay increase to those who report for duty.

State officials confirmed that the National Guard will remain deployed to maintain safety and order at the correctional facilities throughout the strike. To further address the situation, three days of mediation have been scheduled for next week between NYSCOPBA, DOCCS, and the state Office of Employee Relations.

The outcome of these discussions will be crucial in determining whether the strikes will continue or if a resolution can be reached.