NEW YORK — New York’s correctional facilities have been at the center of a massive labor dispute after corrections officers staged an unsanctioned strike, protesting unsafe working conditions, forced overtime and policies they say have made their jobs more dangerous.
The strike at one point spread across more than 40 facilities, prompting a strong response from state officials, including the activation of the National Guard to maintain order inside prisons. Despite a tentative agreement reached on Feb. 27, more than 8,000 officers remain on strike across 32 facilities, while 2,000 have returned to work since March 5, according to the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).
Governor Kathy Hochul has issued increasingly severe warnings, stating that officers who fail to return to work face termination, loss of health benefits and possible arrest under the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking.
“They’ve created very unsafe circumstances,” Hochul said. “We’ve warned them day after day after day. Your healthcare is gone, people are going to be arrested, you could be going to jail. You’ve lost your job, you’ve lost your income — you’ve lost everything.”
Here’s a breakdown of what happened, what’s in the deal and what could come next.
Why did New York correction officers go on strike?
The strike began on Feb. 17 at Collins Correctional Facility near Buffalo, following a lockdown after contraband was discovered and inmates took control of three dorms. It quickly spread to facilities across the state as corrections officers walked off the job.
According to the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), officer assaults have increased dramatically, with more than 2,000 reported in 2024 alone — a 50% increase compared to 2020, according to Spectrum News.
Adding to tensions, a memo from New York’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) redefined staffing levels, stating that “70% of our original staffing model is the new 100%,” effectively formalizing a staff shortage. Officers say this has forced even more mandatory overtime and made an already dangerous job worse.
Another point of contention is the HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement. The Humane Alternatives to Long-Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act, enacted in April 2021 and effective since March 2022, aims to limit the use of solitary confinement in New York State prisons and jails. Under the HALT Act, solitary confinement — defined as confining an individual to a cell for more than 17 hours a day — is limited to a maximum of 15 consecutive days.
Many officers argue the law has made it more difficult to discipline violent inmates, leading to an increase in attacks on staff, NY Focus reports.
In response to the wildcat strike, Hochul called for an immediate end to the work stoppages, calling them “unlawful” and warned of consequences.
State response: National Guard activation and legal threats
With thousands of corrections officers refusing to report to their shifts, Hochul activated the National Guard on Feb. 19 to assist inside state prisons. Inmates at Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg briefly staged an uprising when corrections officers had to retreat from inmate dorms due to understaffing.
The state took a hard stance against striking officers, warning that those who did not return to work by March 1 would face immediate termination of health insurance, potential job loss and legal action under the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking. DOCCS told WNYT that 20 corrections officers have been fired and around 5,200 prison staffers were informed their health insurance was canceled.
Despite these warnings, the strike continued at 32 facilities throughout the state as of March 6.
Inside the tentative agreement between the state and the union
Governor Hochul and NYSCOPBA announced a tentative agreement designed to address some of the officers’ concerns. Key provisions include:
- Increased pay for voluntary overtime: Officers will receive an additional $100 for voluntary overtime shifts worked on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Mandatory overtime penalties: If an officer is forced to work overtime outside of voluntary shifts, the state must pay a $750 penalty to the employee. DOCCS will also conduct an immediate review of the circumstances that led to the mandate.
- Temporary return of retirees: Retired corrections officers will be allowed to work hourly shifts in specific roles, such as transporting incarcerated individuals, to help alleviate staffing shortages.
- HALT Act modifications: Certain provisions of the HALT Act will be suspended for 90 days during the transition period, with a new “circuit breaker” rule that suspends HALT programming elements if a facility has more than a 30% staff vacancy rate and mandatory 24-hour shifts cannot be avoided.
- National Guard assistance: The National Guard will continue providing support during the transition back to normal operations.
- DOCCS staffing improvements: The state and NYSCOPBA will work with staffing experts to find ways to reduce mandatory overtime and eliminate 24-hour shifts.
- Screening of legal mail: DOCCS will begin using technology to screen legal mail for substances before it is opened.
- Wellness and recruitment initiatives: The state will procure a wellness app for corrections officers, maintain 2.5x overtime pay for 30 days during the transition and launch a referral bonus program offering up to $3,000 for employees who successfully recruit new officers.
The full agreement can be viewed here.
What are corrections officers demanding?
One of the top concerns for striking officers is their inability to properly discipline violent inmates. They are pushing for a return of the “keep-lock” provision, which would not place inmates in special housing units but allow them to be confined to their cells or cubes as a form of discipline, the Times Union reports.
The keep-lock rule would still permit inmates to:
- Have access to tablets
- Attend meals, if not in a maximum-security facility
- Be outside in a segregated area for an hour per day
Corrections officers argue this could help curb violent behavior while allowing privileges to be gradually restored for good conduct, the Times Union reports. Corrections officers are also seeking a clearer definition of “assault on staff” to ensure violent incidents are properly tracked.
According to The Citizen, corrections officers are also seeking:
- Reevaluation of security policies to improve officer safety
- Reversal of the HALT Act
- Limits on mandatory overtime
- Grandfather Tier 5 and 6 to Tier 3
- Incoming mail to be photocopied or scanned to incarcerated individuals through their JPay email
- Make body scanners mandatory for visitors
- Location pay
- Facility superintendents’ lockdown authority
- Taking a look at officers’ recruitment suggestions
- Increased pay grade
What’s next?
As the strike entered its 19th day, recent developments have added complexity to the situation. On March 6, New York corrections officials presented a proposal directly to striking officers, bypassing union leadership, in an effort to end the strike. This proposal included immunity from disciplinary action, reinstatement of terminated officers, immediate restoration of health benefits and a temporary 90-day suspension of certain provisions of the HALT Act. Despite these concessions, union leaders have criticized the agreement, citing unresolved legal issues and lack of full participation in its drafting.
Governor Hochul’s administration has warned that failure to return to work by March 7 could still result in firings and legal actions.
The financial toll continues to climb, with the state spending an estimated $3.5 million per day to cover National Guard deployments and overtime for non-striking officers, the New York Post reports.
Meanwhile, Governor Hochul’s plan to expedite the closure of up to five state prisons in the next fiscal year has drawn fierce backlash from officers, who argue the closures will only worsen staffing shortages.
Whether the strike ends with a deal or escalates into further action, the standoff is poised to shape the future of New York’s corrections system.
How has the ongoing strike impacted your facility? What do you think about the tentative agreement? Share your thoughts with us at editor@corrections1.com.
