Governor urges officers to return to work; praises those who stayed on job and 6,500 National Guard assisting in prisons

Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul: Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks today in Albany after a public safety roundtable.

ALBANY – An angry Gov. Kathy Hochul told corrections officers on strike to end their unsanctioned strike and get back to work, saying their absence has put prisons and the entire state at risk.

Many corrections officers went on strike Feb. 17 at Collins and Elmira prisons, and those strikes spread to the majority of the 42 prisons in the state by the next day, including the two prisons in Albion.

As public employees, the correction officers can’t legally go on strike, according to the Taylor Law. A judge also told the COs to return to work.

“Let me be clear: the illegal actions being taken by a number of individuals is putting the entire state at risk,” Hochul said during a news conference in Albany today following a public safety roundtable. “We need them back to work; this must end immediately.”

Today is the second day of a mediator meeting with state officials and the union representing the corrections officers. The union didn’t officially support the strike.

“We’ve done everything we can to encourage them to get back to work,” Hochul said. “They know they are in violation of the New York State Taylor Law. They also are in violation of a temporary restraining order to return to work.

“We offered an amnesty period where they could go back to work, no questions asked. We also repealed a staffing memo that had been viewed as controversial. We also suspended portions of the HALT law, which requires a certain amount of time out and other activities that we do not have the staffing to implement.”

Hochul said 6,500 members of the National Guard have been deployed to help fill the void of the lack of staff.

“That means that they’ve been taken either from their homes or critical assignments — whether they’re protecting assets in New York City or elsewhere against terrorism,” the governor said.

She said the striking COs need to make a “good faith effort” to resolve the strike. She said she understands the frustration about long hours with mandatory overtime.

“We need more of you on the job, I get that,” she said. “But, we have a situation right now, which is absolutely untenable, especially the fact that there were prisons left unguarded — think about that. The incarcerated population was left unguarded. There were people from other unions, people who work in health care, and the commissary, who were left unprotected by these actions.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The National Guard has been helping with staffing at the two prisons in Albion since last Thursday. This photo from Friday shows some of the National Guard vehicles at the QWL site on Washington Street.

Hochul said she is thankful for the National Guard and the corrections officers who have stayed on the job or returned to work.

The state is taking legal proceedings against those who are not coming to work, and she said their health insurance is no longer entitled from the state.

“People took an oath of office to protect the public,” she said. “We have to get back to ensuring that that oath is kept. There’s an enormous strain on our system right now. I encourage everyone to come back to work. We hear you with respect to the long hours.”

The governor said the prison population is about half of what it was and she is moving to close or “consolidate” some of the prisons to maximize every beds in the facilities.

 “In fact, we’re transporting members of the incarcerated population as we speak to take them to other facilities where I can protect them more readily,” she said. “So, that’s where we are. That’s the status. We’re very engaged and look forward to a resolution as soon as possible.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Patty Coffee, director of PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion, accepted a $1,300 donation today from the great-grandchildren of the late Judy Grabowski. From left the great-grandchildren include Caleb, Leah and Eli Prior of Hilton.

The money came from a Super Bowl Square fundraiser with some of the players donating extra for PAWS. There are 100 squares in the fundraiser and each square is $10, but many gave more than that to support the animal shelter on Gaines Basin Road.

The money nearly doubled the $685 the family was able to donate last year from the fundraiser.

The donation was presented today by Grabowski’s family on what would have been her 87th birthday. PAWS was one of her favorite organizations to give to, said her daughter, Elizabeth Pera of Hamlin.

Grabowski was known as “Mema” to the great-grandchildren. She was a Holley resident who donated often to PAWS in memory of friends who passed away, and as memorials for pets in the family that also passed.

Coffee said the donation would likely go towards vet bills for the animals or towards utilities for heating and electricity. There are currently 12 dogs and 12 cats available for adoption at PAWS.

Provided photos

ALBION – National Guard members arrived in Albion this morning just before 8:30 and headed to the Orleans Correctional Facility to help staff the prison where many of the corrections officers are on strike for the third day.

The National Guard will be assisting at Orleans and Albion correctional facilities. Gov. Kathy Hochul mobilized the National Guard after strikes at more than 30 of the state’s prisons. She said the strikes are illegal work stoppages due to the Taylor Law which doesn’t allow public employees to go on strike.

“National Guard members will support and supplement current correctional staff on site to ensure safety and security with tasks including distributing meals and medication to incarcerated individuals and help maintain general order and wellness in the facilities,” according to a news release from the Governor’s Office on Wednesday. “Additional members are expected to report for duty in the coming hours and days.”

About 3,500 National Guard members have been deployed to prisons around the state following an executive order from Hochul.

The governor has approved additional overtime compensation for correction officers and other staff who are reporting for duty and actively working to secure the prisons.

An independent mediator also has been retained “to help bring a quick and immediate end to this illegal work stoppage,” Hochul said.

The corrections officers say the facilities are unsafe and understaffed. They aren’t seeking more money, but instead are focused on better working conditions in the prisons.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley has joined 16 other Republicans in the State Legislature in sending a letter to Go. Kathy Hochul, blaming her administration for failing to make prisons safer for staff.

Hawley and the other legislators addressed the letter to Hochul and Daniel F. Martuscello III, commissioner of NYS Department of Corrections and Supervision.

“We write to you today to make an appeal on behalf of our Correctional Officers statewide for meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving growing concerns over the safety and stability of our correctional facilities,” the letter states. “Measures taken to improve these areas have continued to fail, rendering all individuals within them at significant risk for danger.”

Correction officers are on strike at 30 of the state’s 42 prisons. The strike started on Monday at Elmira and Collins, and spread to more than 20 by Tuesday including Albion and Orleans.

DOCCS reported a record 1,760 assaults on prison staff last year despite recent declines in the population of incarcerated people, Hawley noted.

“New York has seen historic increases of violence for both inmate-on-inmate and inmate-on-officer populations,” states the letter from the legislators.

The letter is signed by Assemblyman Matthew Simpson (114th District), Senator Jake Ashby (43rd District), Sen. James Tedisco (44th), Sen. Mark Walczyk (49th), Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano (3rd), Assemblyman Michael Durso (9th), Assemblyman John Mikulin (17th), Assemblyman Matthew Slater (94th), Assemblyman Chris Tague (102nd), Assemblyman Scott Gray (116th), Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (117th), Assemblyman Robert Smullen (118th), Assemblyman Joseph Angelino (121st), Assemblyman Brian Miller (122nd), Assemblyman John Lemondes (126th), Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (130th) and Assemblyman Steve Hawley (139th).

“1,760 violent incidents against prison staff in a single year is not just an outlier, it’s a trend brought about by Gov. Hochul and her friends in the Majority who rewarded criminal behavior through radical policies such as the HALT Act,” Hawley said in a news release. “Since day one I’ve been firmly against these initiatives. I’ve seen the pain correctional officers and their families go through every day and it’s past time we say enough is enough. The governor needs to get her priorities straight. Our state’s safety depends on it.”

Corrections officers determined to not return to work until HALT Act rescinded

Photos by Tom Rivers: Corrections officers say mandatory overtime keeps them from seeing their families. This group is outside on Gaines Basin Road today. There was another group directly across from the main entrance to Orleans Correctional Facility. More than 100 people were gathered despite temperatures in the teens.

ALBION – More than 100 corrections officers are gathered across from the Orleans Correctional Facility on day 2 of a strike at the facilities. It’s part of strikes at about 25 prisons in New York, as COs pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to rescind the HALT Act which officers say has made the prisons far more dangerous with little repercussion if inmates attack staff or other incarcerated people.

The strikes started at prisons on Monday at Collins in Erie County and Elmira in the Southern Tier. By Tuesday the strike spread to more than 20 prisons including the two in Albion: the women’s prison, Albion Correctional, and the men’s medium-security prison, Orleans Correctional.

Officers on strike today told the Orleans Hub they aren’t seeking more money. The strike is mostly about rescinding the HALT Act and improving staffing. COs say more officers are needed to cut down on mandatory overtime. Some officers say they regularly are working 80 hours a week and are not able to spend much time with their families.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday said she was preparing to mobilize the National Guard if officers don’t end the strike today.

Correction officers say their top priority is rescinding the HALT Act which they say drastically limits solitary confinement for inmates. That has put other inmates and staff at risk of attacks with little repercussions to inmates who hurt others and break prison rules.

The gathering of COs outside Orleans Correctional on Gaines Basin Road was bigger today than on Tuesday. They were joined by many recent retirees.

“This has been a long time coming,” a CO at Orleans Correctional said.

He and his co-workers are determined to stay on strike until the HALT Act is ended.

“It’s up to the Governor’s Office,” said the CO who declined to give his name, fearing retaliation from the state.

Donna Vanderlaan is retired from Albion Correctional the past 5 ½ years. She worked there as a CO for 21 years, and started with two years at Bedford Hills. She said recent state policies have made the prisons less safe, and the shortage of staff are burning out the COs and other workers.

Vanderlaan said the state is overworking the COs and putting them in jeopardy. She has been out in the bitter cold the past two days.

She is amazed by the residents dropping off pizza, water, hand warmers, and wood to burn in barrels.

There has been so much pizza, the retired COs have brought some to the staff working inside the prisons.

“The community is definitely showing lots of support,” one of the COs said. “They’ve been phenomenal.”

COs who were inside the prisons working when the strikes started have now been in there for over 30 hours.

Vanderlaan said the striking staff are staying outside, trying to pressure the governor to change policies, especially the HALT Act.

“This isn’t about money,” Vanderlaan said. “They’re fighting for their lives and for the people who can’t be out here. With the 24-hour shifts, you have no life. We have people falling asleep on their ride home.”

There is a line of about 100 vehicles along Gaines Basin Road stretching from near the prison’s main entrance to past the American Legion Post.

Hawley says COs strike in response to dangerous working conditions

File photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Correctional Facility looms large at the end of Washington Street in Albion. The site is the largest women’s prison in the state.

State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said he supports corrections officers in their demands for an end to HALT Act and increased staffing in prisons.

Corrections officers are on strike at many prisons today in the state, saying they are on the verge of leaving the profession due to mandatory overtime and dangerous conditions from the HALT Act, which puts limits on solitary confinement. Without solitary confinement, COs say incarcerated people can be violent and break prison rules without fear of punishment.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is preparing to send in the National Guard to help staff prisons if the strike doesn’t end by Wednesday.

“Sending the National Guard into our subways to do the job of the NYPD, and prisons to do the job of our correction officers is not the best use of these brave New Yorkers and is the result of the failed leadership of Governor Hochul and Senate and Assembly Democrats,” Ortt said in a statement this afternoon.

“The Governor should be focused on getting our correction officers back in prisons by ending HALT, and a commitment to increasing staffing,” he said. “Deploying our National Guard makes this situation even more dangerous. As a former member of the New York National Guard, I have the highest regard for these soldiers. However this is not what they are trained for.”

Ortt said the Senate Republican Conference has been vocal about the dangerous working conditions in the state’s prisons.

“The HALT Act and other reckless Democrat policies have empowered violent inmates, stripped officers of necessary tools to maintain order, and created an untenable crisis in our correctional facilities,” Ortt said.

He called on Hochul and the Legislature to reverse HALT which he said has resulted in “skyrocketing assaults” on staff.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia faulted the Hochul administration for a failure to provide a safe working environment for correctional officers across the state.

In recent years, Hawley said correctional officers have faced unprecedented violence from inmates. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision reported a record 1,760 assaults on prison staff last year, Hawley said.

“It should be completely clear now to this administration that our correctional officers have had enough,” Hawley said. “Gov. Hochul seems to be hellbent on stripping prison staff of vital protections while putting the concerns of criminals first. Policies like the HALT Act have taken control away from our correctional officers and given the power to inmates.

“Demonstrations like this should not come as a surprise to Gov. Hochul and her friends in the Majority,” Hawley said. “These are the kinds of drastic measures that happen when you push these law enforcement officers to their limits. I will continue to fight in Albany to make sure our correctional officers’ voices are heard and these radical reforms are reversed.”

COs want more staffing in prisons, end to HALT Act

Photos by Tom Rivers: This group is out in the bitter cold across from the Orleans Correctional Facility on Gaines Basin Road for a strike. About 100 correction officers gathered outside the prison to demand more staffing and an end to the Halt Act which limits solitary confinement among incarcerated people. The HALT Act has made the prisons less safe for both inmates and staff, officers said.

ALBION – Corrections officers are on an historic strike at prisons around the state today, including the two in Orleans County: Orleans and Albion correctional facilities.

The staff were supposed to show up to work at 6:45 a.m. for a shift change. But instead about 100 corrections officers gathered outside the facilities for a strike.

 Officers are demanding the HALT Act be rescinded. That state law has limited how inmates can be put in solitary confinement. It has taken punishment and deterrents away from officers in trying to keep the facility safe for both staff and other incarcerated people, COs said at the strike today.

“It is absolutely horribly unsafe,” one striking corrections officer said outside Orleans Correctional, a medium security men’s prison.

Corrections officers say the HALT Act keeps many violent inmates in the general population, putting the facility at risk for both staff and incarcerated people.

About 100 staff were outside Orleans Correctional on Gaines Basin Road, standing in bitter cold temperatures. It was about 10 degrees out with blowing snow, and a wind chill below zero.

Another group was outside on strike at Albion Correctional, a women’s prison at the end of Washington Street.

Orleans Correctional is down about 60 COs. It should have 281 but currently only has 220, one corrections officer said. That was required lots of mandatory overtime. One CO said many new hires quit because of the long hours and safety inside the prison walls. COs also said drugs regularly enter the prison, adding to the unsafe conditions. Drugs are often sent in packages and the understaffed facility can’t fully check all of the packages and mail, COs said.

“This is as serious as it’s got in my 40 years,” said retired Sgt. Arnold Jonathan of Orleans Correctional. “I thank God every day I’m retired.”

He drove from Niagara County to be at the strike in a show of solidarity. He said the last strike was in 1979.

The officers are on strike knowing they could lose their jobs as part of the Taylor Law which prevents a strike from public employees. The strike at Albion and Orleans follows a strike on Monday at Elmira and Collins correctional facilities. COs interviewed at Orleans said those strikes prompted a much larger response across the state today. More than 20 prisons out of the 44 total are expected to have striking COs today.

COs also oppose mandatory overtime. One officer drives an hour to work at Orleans, He said he has regularly been working 80 hours a week and seldom gets to spend time with his family.

The union representing the corrections officers, the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association, is not sanctioning the strikes.

This sign blames Gov. Kathy Hochul and Daniel F. Martuscello III, the commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, for unsafe conditions in the prisons that prompted the strike.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This miniature clay model of a reindeer was created by Brian Porter of Pendleton. He would like to make the reindeer as a bronze statue that would be 6 feet high and 6 feet long to add to Albion’s embrace of its heritage as home to a school for Santas.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board wants to hear from the community whether it should devote any village funds towards a sculpture of a reindeer.

The board will have a 6 p.m. public hearing on Feb. 26 in the village office about spending money towards a full-size clay model of a reindeer. Sculptor Brian Porter of Pendleton in Niagara County has created a miniature model of a reindeer. It’s the first step towards creating a full-size bronze statue. Porter envisions a reindeer with big antlers that would be six feet in height and six feet in length.

He also created the bronze statue of Santa on Main Street. That project was led by the Albion betterment Committee and funded with donations.

Village Trustee Joyce Riley said adding reindeer sculptures around Albion would be another way to celebrate the community’s Santa heritage and boost local tourism.

Porter said a full-size clay model of the reindeer would cost $12,500. To make a statue out of bronze would be another $65,000.

Riley would like to give Porter the go-ahead to work on the large clay model so it could be ready in time to be displayed during the Sept. 26-28 Erie Canal Arts & Craft Festival led by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. The three-day festival is planned for Albion, Holley and Kendall.

Riley suggested the village fund the large clay model, and then pursue grants and donations for the bronze statue.

Once there is a mold for the bronze statue, Riley said duplicates could be made at the lower-cost metal and material so all of Santa’s nine reindeer are displayed around the community.

She would like to see $15,000 total set aside from the village with $12,500 towards the larger clay model and another $2,500 towards and advertising and fundraising campaign.

Mayor Angel Javier said the $15,000 “is a lot of money” and he wants to hear from taxpayers.

Riley said the reindeer ultimately could be part of encouraging more people to live in Albion, set up businesses and visit. She thinks it would have a larger economic impact on the community.

Albion is home to a Santa School from 1937 until the death of the school’s founder, Charles W. Howard in 1966. Howard also led the Christmas Park attraction in Albion.

Besides the bronze statue of Howard, there are two Christmas-themed murals in Albion as well as “Believe” signs. The state Department of Transportation also has dedicated a section of Route 31 in Albion as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.