Hochul prepares to deploy National Guard to prisons; calls CO strike ‘illegal and unlawful’

Photo by Tom Rivers: A retired correction has a sign on him opposing the HALT Act as part of a demonstration with correction officers on strike outside the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion today.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is preparing to deploy the National Guard to staff prisons if a strike by corrections officers does not end by Wednesday.

Hochul blasted the corrections officers for going on strike at many prisons in the state today, including the Orleans Correctional (men’s medium security prison in Albion) and Albion Correctional (a women’s prison). About 100 corrections officers have been out in the freezing cold in a demonstration along Gaines Basin Road by Orleans Correctional.

The first strikes were on Monday at Collins Correctional in Erie County and Elmira Correctional in Chemung County.

“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately,” Governor Hochul said in a news release this afternoon. “We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities.

“I have directed my Administration to meet with union leadership to resolve this situation and have also ordered the National Guard be mobilized to secure our correctional facilities in the event it is not resolved by tomorrow. 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.”

Corrections officers went on strike to protest staffing shortages and unsafe conditions in the prisons – an influx of drugs and ramifications from the HALT Act which limits how incarcerated people can be put into solitary confinement.

Hochul said she directed Daniel Martuscello, commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and senior Administration officials to meet with leaders from the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association. Hochul wants an end to the work stoppage that she said is causing significant public safety concerns across New York.

Hochul said she has worked with NYSCOPBA to improve salaries, benefits and working conditions for corrections officers. In March 2024, the union agreed to a collective bargaining agreement to improve working conditions for corrections officers:

• Increased salaries and starting pay for new employees by $6,500.
• Increased Correction Officer location-based pay by $500 to $1,000 per Officer for downstate assignments.
• Increased Correction Officer hazardous duty pay from $200 to $1,075.
• Provides 12 weeks of fully-paid parental leave.

Hochul said she also succeeded in passing new laws and implemented administrative changes to protect corrections officers. That includes use of body scanners in correctional facilities. She also backed DOCCS implementation of a vendor package program that resulted in large reductions in contraband entering the correctional facilities.

Martuscello, commissioners of DOCCS, met with Chris Summers, president of the union for the correction officers, New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association.

The news release from Hochul included this quote from Martuscello: “Earlier today we met with NYSCOPBA President Summers and his Executive Board to discuss a path forward to returning all facilities to normal operations and ending this illegal strike.

“The safety and security of the staff and incarcerated population is paramount to me. I value the hard work and commitment of the men and women at DOCCS who have had to sacrifice time with their families due to the current staffing shortage.

“However, this illegal job action involving NYSCOPBA members is causing irreparable harm to the operations of the department and jeopardizing the safety and security of their co-workers within these facilities. We will continue to develop strategies to reduce assaults and to bring more staff on board with NYSCOPBA, the recognized bargaining agency for correction officers and sergeants.

“There is always room for progress and for disagreements and we welcome continued dialogue with the union at the table. At this time, I am urging all those on strike to end this job action.”