US: 2,000 prison guards fired for not returning to work after strike in New York
Martusello said the state would honor overtime and some other agreement provisions. He said the National Guard would be on prison support posts, while the department would conduct a rapid recruitment drive for additional staff.
The administration on monday fired more than 2,000 prison guards for not returning to work after a week-long strike in New York. The administration said enough officers had returned to work to declare the strike over. Commissioner Daniel Martusello said in a virtual press conference, "After 22 days of illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report that the strike is now over."
The state and the prison guards' union reached a new agreement to end the strike this weekend, but it was contingent on at least 85 percent of the staff returning to work by monday morning. That number was below the 85 percent target needed to trigger the agreement. Martuscello said the state would honor overtime and some other provisions of the agreement. He said the National Guard would be on standby at prisons while the department launched a rapid recruitment drive for additional staff. He said about 10,000 security personnel are available to work in prisons across the state, compared to about 13,500 before the strike.
He said, "Dismissal letters have been sent to more than 2,000 officers on strike. Officers and sergeants who did not have previously approved medical leave and who did not return by 6:45 a.m. today have been dismissed with immediate effect." An email was sent to the guards' union, the New York State Correctional Officers and police Benevolent Association, seeking comment. Several prison guards began a strike on february 17, citing dissatisfaction with working conditions, prompting governor Kathy Hochul to send in National Guard troops to maintain operations.
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