By Diane Pineiro-Zucker
Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has extended its authorization for additional overtime for corrections officers (COs) at a rate of 2.5 times their regular pay through Friday, May 9, the department said Monday, April 7.
That overtime rate was part of an agreement reached with thousands of striking corrections officers (COs) on Monday, March 10. It ended an 18-day wildcat strike that began on Monday, Feb. 17 . DOCCS also fired about 2,000 COs and sergeants who failed to return to work by a March 10 deadline.
In Ulster County, DOCCS employees at the Shawangunk, Ulster, and Eastern prisons in Napanoch, and Coxsackie in Greene County joined the strike.
On Sunday, March 9, DOCCS reached an agreement with striking workers that required at least 85% of staff to return to work.
The initial overtime agreement was set to expire on Wednesday, April 9.
“As DOCCS continues to Recover, Recruit and Rebuild from the illegal job action, Governor (Kathy) Hochul and Commissioner (Daniel) Martuscello have extended the authorization of additional overtime compensation … in recognition of the ongoing challenges and significant work being performed by DOCCS’ staff,” the department said in a press release. “We are thankful to all DOCCS staff that continue to work under these challenging circumstances as they safeguard and secure our correctional facilities, and help make their neighboring communities safer.”
The 2.5 times rate will apply to “any overtime eligible or ineligible” DOCCS employees who are required to work scheduled or unscheduled overtime “to support securing our facilities, for community supervision workload resulting from the deployment of parole officers to assist facilities during the period, and for those assisting in the recover, recruit and rebuild initiative, which includes staff represented by CSEA ( Civil Service Employees Association ), Council 82, NYSCOPBA ( New York State Corrections Officers Police Benevolent Association, PEF ( Public Employees Federation ) and those that are management confidential, according to the department.
In its March agreement with striking workers, DOCCS also granted their demands for a loosening of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT) and a 12-hour shift limit.
The striking corrections officers had demanded repeal of the HALT law restricting the use of solitary confinement at state institutions, 20-year retirement; incentive hiring bonuses; 2.5 times overtime pay on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; two times overtime pay on Mondays through Thursdays; no overtime mandates over 16 hours; step raise adjustments and a retention benefit.
The deal, offered as the strike reached its 18th day, only applied to those returning to their shifts on Friday, March 7.
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