In response to an ongoing unlawful work stoppage by some New York correction officers, Governor Kathy Hochul is bringing in the big guns – literally. Hochul has announced that preparations are underway to deploy the New York National Guard to secure correctional facilities and maintain the safety of officers, inmates, and nearby communities. The Governor's decisive move, aimed at ensuring public safety and operational continuity at the state's correctional facilities, comes as talks persist to resolve the dispute with the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).
As reported by the Governor's office, Governor Hochul has called the strike "illegal and unlawful" and emphasized the urgent need to end the work stoppage. "We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities," she stated. The Governor's office has highlighted her ongoing efforts to address correction officers' grievances, including improved pay and working conditions. To attempt to quickly resolve the standoff, Hochul has directed the Administration to meet with union leadership and has prepared to take disciplinary action against those involved in the strike.
The tensions peaked after a collective bargaining agreement in March 2024 fell short of preventing the current crisis. As outlined in the Governor's previous announcements, the agreement included various benefits for correction officers, such as increased salaries, location-based pay adjustments, hazard duty pay, and fully-paid parental leave. Additionally, changes have been instituted to bolster safety and recruitment in the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) – from body scanners in facilities to innovative initiatives aimed at drawing in new correction officers, spanning expansive recruitment campaigns to regional hiring incentives.
Meanwhile, DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III has not hesitated to express the gravity of the situation, stating that the strike is causing "irreparable harm" and compromising security inside facilities. "The safety and security of the staff and incarcerated population is paramount to me," Martuscello conveyed to the Governor's office. The call for an end to the strike also comes with reassurance that dialogues with the union will continue in hopes of finding common ground without undermining the institution's operational integrity. It is clear that while the administration has fought to implement solutions to address the correction officers' concerns, the impasse persists and requires immediate intervention to ensure order within the state's correctional system.
The Governor's office has also outlined multiple prongs of a strategy to increase the appeal of correction officer positions: amending residency requirements to attract out-of-state applicants, extensive social media recruitment campaigns, and running Recruitment Centers in strategic locations amongst others. These measures reflect a multifaceted approach that goes beyond immediate crisis management, hinting at a long-term investment in the viability of New York's correctional workforce. Yet, as the clock ticks down to the Governor's ultimatum, the hope remains to resolve the standoff without fully triggering National Guard intervention – a scenario that underscores the severity of the unrest brewing within New York's correctional facilities.
