North Country state lawmakers pushing to reinstate fired COs

Yahoo

11-04-2025

PLATTSBURGH — Work continues from North Country state lawmakers to try to bring back 2,000 correction officers let go after a recent 22-day strike.
Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) and Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) have put forth legislation permitting the reinstatement of 2,000 correction officers fired by Gov. Kathy Hochul in the aftermath of the strike, and Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) also continues to push for their return to work.
STRIKE
Officers across the state were on strike for 22 days as they protested the dangerous working conditions inside prisons. The National Guard was activated to help cover prisons during the strike, and they continue to be deployed.
The 2,000 officers who were fired did not return to work by deadlines imposed by the state after negotiations. But officers claim that those who were out legally for disability or other reasons, were wrongfully terminated as well.
Senate bill S.7310 would grant a grace period for officers terminated by the governor to return to work without retribution, Stec and Gray said, which would also save the state money.
State Budget Director Blake Washington has estimated that the deployment of the National Guard into correctional facilities has cost New York more than $100 million a month. The reinstatement of 2,000 officers – given a median annual salary of $75,000 and fringe rate of 60 percent – would cost the state $20 million in monthly costs, Stec and Gray said.
Allowing these officers to return to work not only saves taxpayers money, but also ensures that qualified, trained personnel are working inside correctional facilities, they said.
'If New York state takes prison safety and costs seriously, Governor Hochul and Democrat leaders would end this vindictive firing and ban of 2,000 trained, dedicated correction officers,' Stec said.
'These men and women went on strike because they were in fear for their health and well-being due to unsafe conditions. In their absence, the state has deployed the National Guard, which is not trained or equipped for these circumstances. Instead of maintaining this new, dangerous status quo I urge the governor and Democrat leaders to take up mine and Assemblyman Gray's bill allowing these 2,000 COs the ability to return to work.'
Gray said the 2,000 correction officers who were fired are being punished simply for speaking out against unsafe working conditions.
'Instead of addressing their concerns, just as any employer should handle workplace issues, the state fired them and treated them as if they were the criminals. Now, due to severe staffing shortages, DOCCS is forced to release prisoners early and, after a long delay, has finally acknowledged the real deficiencies in our prison system in a recently released video,' Gray said.
'However, before this situation spirals any further, we need to take immediate action to correct these wrongs, starting with reinstating the correctional officers who are ready and willing to return to the vital work they were doing. This is how we can truly begin rebuilding and restoring our prison system and public safety.'
JONES EFFORTS
Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) a former correction officer himself, said he has been working diligently to get the fired officers back on the job.
Jones said the officers are still faced with almost daily 12-hour or longer shifts, critical staffing shortages, and continued dangerous working conditions.
'The fastest and simplest solution for the state to prevent the brewing safety crisis from getting out of control is to rehire the correction officers who are willing to return to work. Prioritizing those who were let go while on FMLA, sick leave, or other approved time off is critical to bring staff back to these facilities quickly,' Jones said.
'Restaffing the facilities also allows civilian workers – who are currently placed in positions that they are often not equipped for – to return to their normal positions and minimize the risks that come with low staff levels. Our civilian workers should not be paying the price for the inadequate staffing levels that the state can quickly resolve.'
Jones said that will also help resume normal programming and other functions within the facilities.
He also said that it is time for the state to return trained correction officers to their positions to lessen the burden on our state resources.
'The cost of keeping these members (National Guard) stationed in facilities they are not trained for is far higher than simply returning former corrections officers to their jobs,' Jones said.
'On top of the staffing issues, implementing safety measures that ensure all staff can go to work and know that they will return home safe is essential. We have seen far too many instances of dangerous substances getting into facilities and hospitalizing workers. It is beyond time for the state to agree that body and mail scanners are necessary for entry into our correctional facilities.'
Jones said he has heard repeatedly from current corrections officers that this is an untenable situation.
'Many officers are already becoming burnt out from overexertion in poor working conditions, and it will only continue to go downhill if something is not done quickly,' Jones said.
'It is time for the governor and DOCCS (Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) to see the scale of this issue and act quickly to implement these solutions.'