Deal Reached to End Illegal Strike by New York State Prison Workers, Governor Says
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Announces Agreement to End Wildcat Strike
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an agreement late Thursday to end a wildcat strike that has roiled the state’s prison system for more than a week.
Agreement Reached After Four Days of Mediation Talks
Hochul said the state and the union for striking correctional workers agreed to binding terms after four days of mediation talks. The workers must return to work by Saturday to avoid being disciplined for striking, mediator Martin Scheinman in a seven-page memo detailing the agreement, known as a binding consent award.
Deal Addresses Staffing Shortages and Overtime Shifts
The deal includes changes to address staffing shortages and provisions to minimize mandatory 24-hour overtime shifts. Hochul said the mediated settlement addresses many of the workers’ concerns, puts the state prison system on the path to safe operations, and prevents future unsanctioned work stoppages.
Union Wins Key Concessions
Strikers won several key concessions, including a temporary bump in overtime pay, a potential change in pay scale, and the suspension of a prison reform law they blamed for making prisons less safe.
Overtime Pay and Pay Scale Changes
For the next month, under the agreement, overtime will be paid at a rate of 2½ times instead of the usual 1½ times regular pay. The state also agreed that within the next four months it will finish its analysis of a union request to bump the salary grade for officers and sergeants.
Reform Law Suspended
The reform law, which limits the use of solitary confinement, will remain suspended for 90 days while the state evaluates if reinstating it will “create an unreasonable risk” to staff and inmate safety.
Committee to Study Staffing and Operational Inefficiencies
The state and union also agreed to form a committee to study staffing and operational inefficiencies at each facility in an effort to relieve strain on existing staff.
Prison System Returns to Normal Operations
Corrections officers began walking out Feb. 17 to protest working conditions. Hochul deployed the National Guard to some prisons to take the place of striking workers. The job action violated a state law barring strikes by most public employees. Several inmates have died during the strike. The National Guard will draw down from state prisons as correctional officers return to work.
Mediator’s Insight
Scheinman, a seasoned mediator who serves as the permanent arbitrator for Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and their unions, said the sides demonstrated “good faith and enormous commitment to finding workable solutions for the workforce.” “What has become clear during the mediation is the relationship between the parties and the workforce is strained,” Scheinman wrote in a memo explaining the agreement. “No single issue, law, or policy entirely explains the current situation. It is obvious this erosion did not happen all at once.”
Conclusion
The agreement marks a significant step towards resolving the crisis in the state’s prison system. The deal addresses key concerns of the striking workers, including staffing shortages and overtime shifts, and provides a framework for improving the safety and efficiency of the prison system.
FAQs
* When do correctional officers need to return to work? Correctional officers must return to work by Saturday to avoid being disciplined for striking.
* What are the key concessions won by the union? The union won a temporary bump in overtime pay, a potential change in pay scale, and the suspension of a prison reform law.
* What is the status of the National Guard? The National Guard will draw down from state prisons as correctional officers return to work.
* What is the next step for the prison system? The state and union will form a committee to study staffing and operational inefficiencies at each facility to relieve strain on existing staff.
