Stalemate remains as correction officer strike reaches Day 10
PLATTSBURGH — Mediation talks yielded no substantial changes affecting the now 10-day old correction officers strike and both sides remain dug into their positions.
'Day 2 of mediation concluded last night (Tuesday) at approximately 9 p.m. and the discussions continued with the state and DOCCS on the main concerns of those members still engaged in the labor dispute,' a statement from New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association spokesman Jim Miller said.
'There was progress made on several issues, but nothing significant to report at this time.'
MEDIATION SESSIONS
Mediation sessions began in earnest on Monday as the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the union try to end the strike, which the union has not sanctioned.
Officers began striking on Monday, Feb. 17 outside several prisons across the state. The strike has spread to just about all prisons in the state.
Some officers are not striking and they have been working long shifts since then with little time off to cover each prison. Gov. Kathy Hochul also activated 6,500 members of the National Guard to help secure the facilities.
Officers are striking in hopes of improving staffing levels inside prisons, better measures to keep troublesome contraband out and a repeal of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act, which strictly limits the amount of time and which inmates can be sent to special housing units.
DOCCS: STRIKES RISK STABILITY
DOCCS said Wednesday that the state remains fully engaged in the ongoing mediation effort and remains hopeful for a swift and fair resolution.
'As we reach day 10 of this illegal strike, we take a moment to recognize and commend the exemplary work being done by the current staff and the National Guard,' a DOCCS statement said.
'Their dedication and professionalism are critical in maintaining facility operations and ensuring the safety and security of our facilities and the neighboring communities. However, the longer this illegal strike continues the greater the risk becomes to the stability of these facilities and for the people inside them. It is imperative that this unlawful job action come to an end without further delay.'
On Tuesday, Hochul said in her media briefing, 'We want to find out what the issue is, because the individuals who've walked out in an unsanctioned strike unapproved by the union have yet to tell us the issues.'
That statement rankled many officers as well as State Sen. Dan Stec (R-Queensbury) who said it would be 'shocking' if Hochul did not know what the issue were because officers have been begging for reform for more than two years.
JONES: STAFF WANT SAFETY
On Wednesday, Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) a former correction officer himself, also addressed the governor's comments.
'The Governor and NYSDOCCS should know exactly what correctional officers and staff want just as much as we know what they want,' Jones said.
'They want safety and safe staffing restored in our correctional facilities. Correctional officers just want to go home to their families at night, and not be concerned about what might happen during their shift. They also simply do not want to be overworked and be required to work ridiculous shifts, something that all workers deserve.'
Jones said that since the HALT Act was enacted (March of 2022), violent incidents have increased, making it so correctional officers can no longer discipline the inmates, and making it nearly impossible to recruit new employees.
'It is common sense to make changes to the HALT Act to ensure that correctional facilities are safe and help with staff recruitment and retention,' Jones said.
'The North Country knows exactly how bad it is at correctional facilities with recent incidents with contraband where several correctional officers received medical treatment due to exposure to an unknown substance. It is again just common sense to make changes to the security policy and require all visitors and inmates to receive full body scans and to update the legal mail policy as well as establish a true secured vending system for packages.'
'NEED TO BE ADDRESSED NOW'
Jones said the requests from the officers are nothing new and the governor and DOCCS need to address them immediately.
'I've been beating this drum for a long time. These officers have no work-life balance with mandatory shifts,' he said.
'There needs to be a resolution soon. We have to get to a place where we can have assurances that our staff is safe within (prisons), and like I have said before, these issues have been around for a number of years now, and should have been addressed before now, and they need to be addressed now.'
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