NEW YORK (AP) In a plea to striking prison guards, New York corrections officials on Thursday urged them to take a final deal that would allow them to return to work without facing repercussions. This appeal comes as the illegal wildcat strike, which began on February 17, reached its 18th day. Daniel Martuscello, the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, emphasized that the offer was crafted based on provisions requested by the striking workers themselves during recent conversations on the picket lines.
The offered deal includes several key concessions, such as guarantees that returning officers would not face any disciplinary action, the reinstatement of those already terminated for participating in the strike, and the immediate restoration of health insurance benefits. Furthermore, the deal encompasses other concessions from a prior agreement that was not upheld, including a temporary 90-day suspension of a state law that restricts the use of solitary confinement—action that the staff has attributed to heightened safety concerns within prisons.
Martuscello shared details of the deal in a Zoom call, stating, “I heard my workforce. This delivers the things they asked for.” Meanwhile, Jackie Bray, the commissioner of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, warned that this offer would be the last chance for the striking workers to return. She indicated that disciplinary action would ensue for those who decide not to return by Friday, including potential firings and pursuing all legal remedies to bring an end to what Bray termed an illegal strike. Bray mentioned that the state had provided the names of approximately 1,000 striking workers to Attorney General Letitia James’ office for potential contempt of court charges.
Bray expressed a strong desire for the guards to return, stating, “We want you back. We need you back. You need to come back to work tomorrow.” Conversely, a spokesperson for the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), which represents over 13,000 prison staffers, did not offer immediate comments on the situation. Earlier, the union indicated it would not endorse the latest offer, citing “substantial legal issues” that remained unaddressed. NYSCOPBA asserted that it had not been adequately involved in the development of the agreement currently in circulation, claiming that negotiations must be conducted through them as the legally recognized entity.
The walkout began as a protest against what the guards deemed unsafe working conditions, occurring in defiance of state law that prohibits such actions by most public employees. In response to the ongoing situation, Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed thousands of National Guard members to assist within the state’s corrections facilities. Just last Thursday, she unveiled a binding agreement designed to motivate the officers to cease the strike, requesting their return by Saturday to avoid the risk of disciplinary measures.
This previous agreement included an increase in overtime pay and strategies to address staffing shortages, along with efforts to reduce mandatory 24-hour overtime shifts among other provisions. The ongoing turmoil in state prisons has also raised concerns regarding safety, exemplified by the recent placement of 15 staff members on leave as investigations proceed into the death of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi, who was incarcerated at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy. This incident follows the charging of six guards in connection with the death of Robert Brooks, another inmate who died while at the nearby Marcy Correctional Facility.
