New York Governor Kathy Hochul has successfully brokered an agreement to halt a wildcat strike that has disrupted the state's prison system for over a week. The deal, reached after four days of mediation talks, mandates that striking correctional workers must return to work by Saturday to avoid disciplinary action.
The binding consent award, outlined in a seven-page memo by mediator Martin Scheinman, includes provisions to address staffing shortages and reduce mandatory 24-hour overtime shifts. Governor Hochul emphasized that the settlement addresses workers' concerns, ensures the safety of all New Yorkers, and aims to prevent future unauthorized work stoppages.
The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc., the union representing the workers, secured key concessions such as a temporary increase in overtime pay and a potential adjustment to the pay scale. Additionally, a prison reform law limiting solitary confinement will remain suspended for 90 days pending a safety evaluation.
As part of the agreement, overtime pay will be raised to 2½ times the regular rate for the next month, and the state will review a request to elevate the salary grade for officers and sergeants within four months. A committee will also be established to study staffing and operational issues at each facility to alleviate strain on existing staff.
The strike, initiated by corrections officers on February 17 to protest working conditions, prompted Governor Hochul to deploy the National Guard to some prisons. The involvement of the National Guard will be scaled back as correctional officers resume their duties, with remaining members assisting to prevent mandated 24-hour overtime shifts.
Mediator Martin Scheinman commended both parties for their commitment to finding solutions and acknowledged the strained relationship between the state and the workforce. The agreement marks a significant step towards restoring stability in the state's prison system and ensuring the safety of staff and inmates.
