New York Governor Kathy Hochul Questions What Striking Correction Officers Want
Unsanctioned Strike by Correction Officers
At a press conference on Tuesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul implied that she did not know what striking correction officers wanted, stating that it couldn’t be about pay. Retired officers, and the families of active-duty officers, who were speaking on behalf of active-duty COs who will not speak to media for fear of state retaliation, reacted negatively to Hochul’s remarks.
What Do the Striking Correction Officers Want?
“We’re going to figure out what the issue is, because the individuals who walked out in an unsanctioned strike, not approved by the union, have yet to tell us the issues,” said Governor Hochul. “When they’re not represented by a union, and I’m negotiating with the union and I’m asking the union what do they want. It can’t be pay and benefits because we literally just negotiated a very generous package less than a year ago,” Hochul added. “I don’t believe it’s about benefits. I don’t believe that it is,” the governor continued.
Concerns from Retired and Active-Duty Officers
Danielle’s husband is a correction officer at Coxsackie, and Rochell’s husband is an officer at Greene. They would not give their last names in order to protect their husbands who will not talk to the media fearing state retaliation.
Rochelle: “I don’t know how she could not know it’s all over the place. They want them to repeal HALT because HALT has a lot of factors.”
Danielle: “— Factors that make it an unworkable environment.”
Rochelle: “It’s not just an unsafe environment for the COs. It’s an environment that’s unsafe for the incarcerated individuals as well. That’s what people don’t understand. It’s about safety for everyone. We need to come together as a community, families of incarcerated individuals and COs, and come together and make something that’s safer for everyone.”
Retired Officer Weighs In
Retired officer Rudy Pavlin reacted as well:
“There’s no reason that she doesn’t know what this is about because they’ve already had a meeting yesterday, even though they took the weekend off,” said Pavlin. “She’s clueless. It has absolutely nothing to do with money or benefits. It’s all about safety and security for all involved inside the walls of every prison in the state,” Pavlin explained.
The group says they came out of a meeting where they clarified their terms to Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado.
“It appeared that he really wasn’t aware of the issues at hand. So we hammered that this was not about money,” Pavlin claimed.
Conclusion
The comments made by Governor Hochul have sparked concerns among retired and active-duty correction officers, who feel that she is not taking the issues seriously. The striking correction officers have made it clear that their demands are not about pay and benefits, but about safety and security inside the prisons.
FAQs
* What is the reason for the unsanctioned strike by correction officers?
+ The cause of the strike is not publicly disclosed, but it is believed to be related to safety and security concerns inside the prisons.
* What is HALT?
+ HALT (Holding Authorization for Living Transparency) is a law that requires corrections officers to wear body cameras and mandates stricter policies for the use of force.
* Why are the correction officers on strike?
+ The striking correction officers are demanding the repeal of HALT, citing concerns about safety and security inside the prisons.
* What is the response of the Governor?
+ The Governor has stated that she is unsure what the correction officers are demanding and that it is not about pay and benefits, which were recently negotiated.
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