The officers union did not authorize the strike, and it was unclear how it would enforce the agreement. The stoppages have affected all but one of the state’s 42 prisons.
New York state authorities and a union representing corrections officers have reached a deal to end the most widespread strikes in the state’s prisons in more than four decades, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.
It was unclear how the union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, would enforce the agreement, as it did not authorize the stoppage. The striking officers also defied a judge’s order earlier this month to return to work.
The union said in a statement that the decision was not based on a collective vote by its members. It encouraged striking workers to stop striking but added that it would “be up to each individual who currently is refusing to work to decide whether to return to work or risk termination, potential fines and possible arrest for violating the court order,” the union said.
Corrections officers began a series of wildcat strikes on Feb. 17 at the Collins and Elmira correctional facilities over what they described as severe staff shortages, dangerous conditions and excessive mandatory overtime. The stoppages spread to all but one of the state’s 42 prisons, and Governor Hochul deployed National Guard troops to help address the staffing shortage.
Through mediation, the state reached an agreement with the union for a consent award to address the officers’ complaints, Governor Hochul said in a statement. The award includes changes to improve staffing and reduce mandatory overtime.
The award, by the arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman, followed four days of mediation proceedings involving the state corrections department and the union.
Under the award, the corrections department would not discipline striking workers as long as they returned to work by Saturday.
The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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