DOCCS has started terminating benefits and correction officer jobs
DANNEMORA, NY (WVNY/WFFF) — Monday marks the 16th day correction officers across New York have been off the job, protesting what they say are unsafe work conditions. Despite the state starting terminations and ending insurance benefits, many officers say they will not back down.
The state's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner, Daniel Martuscello III, along with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner, Jackie Bray, held an online meeting urging correction officers to go back to work.
'Individuals on unauthorized absence are deemed resigned if they are absent for 10 workdays and don't provide an excuse satisfactory to management, or explain their absence by the end of the 11th workday,' said Bray. 'All absences due to the strike have been deemed unauthorized absences.'
Those that don't may lose benefits such as health insurance, and even possibly lose their jobs.
'Yesterday, we began termination of correction officers. Today, we will be terminating health insurance for corrections officers who have been AWOL and their dependents,' said Bray.
Retired Correction Officer, Jim Mazzotte has been spending time outside Clinton Correctional, in Dannemora, supporting the striking officers. He said, 'They're not budging and they're just tired of being threatened. They want action. They want action from the governor. They want action from the commissioner.'
The Taylor Law prohibits public employees, such as correction officers, from participating in a strike. If they do, they could face criminal charges. The current strike officially started on February 17, 2025, impacting 38 of the state's 42 prisons, according to Bray.
Bray also said there are more than 5,300 National Guard men and women working inside the prisons, costing the state roughly $25 million so far. She also said the officers could be fined, depending on the total cost.
When it comes to repealing the HALT Act, which has been a main focal point for the correction officers, Martuscello said, 'In terms of the executive order, as you know the legislature can override an executive order with 50 percent, plus one. So therefore, there's really no change that we can immediately make to the halt act, other than to go to the legislature to make changes.'
That is what the officers have been demanding since the first day.
As of Monday morning, officials said that only a handful of officers have been terminated based on missing 11 consecutive shifts for the strike.
We're told some officers returned to work Sunday night and Monday morning. Many said they're not going back to work until they get what they need.
Watch the full online meeting here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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