Correction Officers Start to Strike in New York

Correction officers across New York have begun striking and protesting at multiple correction facilities across the Empire State.

On Monday, corrections officers at select Correctional Facilities in Upstate New York began to strike in protest of working conditions, including staffing and officer safety. The protests began at the Elmira and Collins Correctional Facilities on Monday, halting normal operations at both state-run prisons, according to WTEN. The protests quickly spread to facilities in the Hudson Valley, NY, on Tuesday.

Hudson Valley Correction Officers Protest

According to sources, numerous state correction officers in the Hudson Valley have joined the other state prison protests being held to highlight safety concerns, 24-hour mandates, and more. The protests began locally on Tuesday outside of six state facilities in Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan counties, including Eastern Correctional Facility, Fishkill, Otisville, Woodbourne, Ulster State Correctional Facility, and Wallkill.

Currently, workers are protesting outside of 25 state facilities, with the possibility of other facilities joining soon according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).

Why Are New York Correction Officers Striking?

Protests, and in some cases strikes began after recent assaults on staff at various facilities in New York resulting in injuries to some of the prison staff. Unfortunately, over the last few years assaults on prison staff across New York have been on the rise with new data showing that in 2023, there were 1671 reported assaults involving staff. In 2024 there were 2070 reported assaults at New York state-run facilities.

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Not only are safety issues a cause for concern, but a state memo recently informed officers that the staff shortages that most facilities are currently experiencing would likely continue in the future. Officers participating in the protests are hoping that state officials will change what they call "a dangerous prison environment for both workers and inmates" and eliminate mandatory 24-hour shifts.

Is a Strike Legal?

The current strikes are not sanctioned by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) and because of that and the state’s Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking officials are calling it illegal. According to the AP, New York Governor Katy Hochul issued a statement demanding union leaders to end "unlawful work stoppage" saying,

"The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately. We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities. Correction officers do difficult work under challenging circumstances, and I have consistently fought for them to have better pay and working conditions and will continue to do so."

 

Hochul also said that if the work stoppages don't end she would consider deploying the state's National Guard. This is a developing story and as more information becomes available we will update this article.