State declares CO strike over
DANNEMORA — The grounds outside Clinton Correctional Facility looked much different Monday than they have the past three weeks.
Instead of hundreds of correction officers huddling around fires, holding makeshift signs denouncing the state's treatment of them and receiving food deliveries from supportive members of the community, the parking lot across the street from Clinton Correctional was empty for the first time since before Feb. 17 — when the strike began.
State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Daniel F. Martuscello III declared Monday afternoon that the strike was over, and that about 10,000 of the 13,500 officers in the state had returned to work.
Monday's developments occurred after an agreement on paper was reached between the state and the correction officer's union, the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association, over the weekend.
It had remained to be seen whether or not staff would return to work.
THRESHOLD
An 'agreement' was previously reached on Feb. 27, but the strike continued on. However, this time, it played out differently after the state set an early Monday morning deadline to return to work.
'The agreement will take effect upon at least 85 percent of staff returning to work,' a statement issued Saturday night said.
James Miller, Director of Public Relations for NYSCOPBA, said Monday morning he did not have an official tally of those who went back to work.
'Received multiple inquiries this morning on the number of officers who returned to work at the deadline today,' he said by email.
'No numbers yet on how many returned to work. I will hopefully have a better sense by early afternoon. More than likely, we won't put out a statement until we know if the threshold was met.'
ITEMS
The deal appears to include most of the same items that were agreed upon in previous rounds of negotiations.
A suspension of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act for 90 days with review to follow, changes in scheduling to alleviate overtime and double and triple shifts, improved screening procedures and limited or no discipline for striking officers.
The deal was signed by DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, Office of Employee Relations Director Michael Volforte and New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers.
Officers across the state have been on a wildcat strike not sanctioned by the union for three weeks. They have been demanding safer conditions inside prisons.
They are seeking more staffing, less double and triple shifts, better screening for packages and visitors to keep contraband out, a repeal to HALT.
The state has threatened to fire striking officers and suspended health insurance coverage for them and their families.
The National Guard has been called in to help those officers who have been reporting for work, cover prisons.
THANKED THE STAFF
Martuscello said the National Guard and the officers who have been working deserve credit.
'I want to thank the staff that have worked hard every day of this strike,' he said.
'Your being there was critical for this challenging 22 days.'
While it appears that officers at Clinton Correctional Facility and Altona Correctional Facility have largely returned to work, there reportedly were still large numbers of officers picketing at prisons in Malone in Franklin County.
Martuscello said that the state would be terminating about 2,000 officers who did not return to work, immediately.
LEGAL AID SOCIETY
While Martuscello touted the end of the strike, the Legal Aid Society said it was not happy about the deal reached, and threatened legal action.
'Although Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III and NYSCOPBA leadership have signed an agreement aimed at ending the illegal strike, the threat to incarcerated New Yorkers persists. Without a clear plan to swiftly restore essential services, resume legal and family visits, provide medical care neglected during the strike, and implement strong oversight to prevent retaliation by returning correctional staff, the people we serve in DOCCS facilities across the state will continue to face life-threatening harm,' a statement from the Legal Aid Society said Monday.
'Compounding these concerns, DOCCS has doubled down on a purported 'suspension' of HALT, the vague terms of which threaten a boundless and illegal circumvention of critical legal protections for incarcerated New Yorkers. All incarcerated New Yorkers, their families, friends, and communities, deserve to know what DOCCS is doing to comply with HALT, and we are going to court to ensure they have that clarity.'
The Legal Aid Society said it will continue to closely monitor this situation to ensure the well-being of those they represent and safeguard their legal rights.
JONES WANTS SAFETY
State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) a former correction officer himself, said he will remain committed to fighting for workplace safety at correctional facilities across the state.
'What is happening at correctional facilities is horrible and it should have never come to this,' Jones said.
'No one wants to see anyone lose their job for protecting workplace safety. All we want is for everyone to return to work under safe conditions.'
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