Deal with CO union requires guards to return to work Monday, striking officers doubtful
Sunday marked 20 days since correctional officers statewide went on an unsanctioned strike, calling for a repeal of the HALT Act, better working hours and conditions, among other asks.
In order for this new agreement to take effect, staff levels for COs must reach an 85% threshold, requiring those still on strike to return to work no later than 6:46 Monday morning, however, Attica guards on the picket lines Sunday said the deal could be better.
One of the biggest concerns they have is in Section 1 of the agreement – how the state plans to move forward with the HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement against incarcerated individuals within state facilities.
The deal asserts the originally-proposed 90-day suspension of the HALT Act, during which DOCCS will be responsible for determining its effectiveness. The guards on strike said 90 days isn't long enough – calling for it to be repealed entirely.
The Halt Act went into effect across the state in 2022 and requires all prisoners to be let out of their cells every day for at least seven hours and limits the amount of solitary confinement time an inmate can get. Correction officers said it limits inmate discipline, which they said makes their job harder, but inmates called it a saving grace.
There are also major concerns looming over long work hours.
'24-hour work shifts are too long, I understand,' Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged early on in the strikes after an initial deal failed to stop the strikes. 'These individuals work in tough conditions; I know that and appreciate it. This creates time away from their families, and the unpredictability is not an ideal situation. Nobody wanted this.'
DOCCS detailed in this most recent agreement a plan to 'minimize and work towards eliminating anyone working 24-hour mandatory overtime,' but striking officers said they don't want such extensive overtime to even be an option, citing safety concerns.
The prison guard's union, which did not authorize the strikes and has advocated against officers' continuing the illegal strike, announced it had taken legal action against DOCCS hours before the state announced the new deal had been reached with the union.
In a letter to its members, the union announced it had taken the legal action, and threatened further action, to ensure its returning members receive their benefits, namely their health insurance.
After the first deal was struck, a number of penalties were initiated, including the possibility of COs being fired, arrested, and their health insurance being taken away.
The new deal, which was signed by NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers, does not waive strike penalties, according to DOCCS.
News 8 reached back out to the union for comment following Saturday's deal confirmation and has yet to hear back.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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