New York is sending a strong message.
On Monday, New York officials dismissed over 2,000 prison guards who failed to return to work after participating in a weekslong illegal strike. The strike, which violated state law prohibiting strikes by most public employees, ended after enough correctional officers returned, allowing the state to declare it over. The wildcat strike had lasted 22 days, and Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello confirmed that it was officially over, though he noted that some provisions of a new agreement would still be honored.
The strike began on February 17 when guards walked off due to frustration with working conditions, with inmates reporting deteriorating conditions in the prisons. A new agreement reached over the weekend between the state and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association required at least 85% of the staff to return to work by Monday morning for the deal to take effect. While this goal was not met, Martuscello stated that some parts of the agreement would still be honored, including provisions related to overtime work. The National Guard, deployed to fill in for striking workers, would remain in place while the state focused on recruiting more employees.
Approximately 10,000 security staff were available to work in the state’s prisons, a reduction from the previous 13,500. The state issued termination letters to over 2,000 officers who did not return by the 6:45 a.m. deadline on Monday. Guards and sergeants without preapproved medical leave who did not return to their posts were dismissed immediately.
The strike has drawn attention to a series of incidents, including the death of 22-year-old inmate Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility, where allegations of excessive force by guards have surfaced. Fifteen staff members have been placed on administrative leave, and a special prosecutor is investigating the incident. There are also ongoing investigations into other inmate deaths during the strike. The union did not authorize the walkout, and previous attempts to resolve the dispute failed to bring enough guards back to work.
The new agreement addresses a key issue raised by the guards, including a 90-day suspension of a state law limiting solitary confinement. During this suspension, the state will assess whether reinstating the law would pose a risk to safety. Guards will also be required to work 12-hour shifts, and the state will refrain from disciplining those who participated in the strike if they returned by the agreed deadline.
