NY Prisons Await Details of Tentative Offer Amid Ongoing Corrections Officer Strike

Tentative Offer in New York Prisons Correction Officer Strike

A tentative agreement has been reached between the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) aiming to end the ongoing corrections officer strike. Participants in the strike have expressed concerns over long shifts, staffing shortages and increased violence in the prison facilities.

Despite the proposed agreement, the strike might not end immediately as the union hasn’t officially sanctioned it. Each correction officer must individually approve the deal’s conditions. Central to the strike is the demand for a full repeal of the HALT Act, which addresses segregated confinement and its replacement with rehabilitative programs. Repeal of the act would require action from Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders.

Retired sergeant and former executive vice president of NYSCOPBA, Tammy Sawchuk, underlines that the demands presented also include items relating to lengthy shifts, pay, pensions, and the need for measures to address contraband inflow. She challenges the effectiveness of the HALT Act, claiming “It doesn’t work, it has never worked.”

Pushback against the strike comes from advocates of the HALT Act like Jerome Wright, co-director of the #HALTsolitary Campaign. He argues that the law hasn’t been fairly portrayed nor fully implemented. He suggests that the law allows for 15 days of segregated confinement before a hearing, which should be sufficient for de-escalation. He argues for the full implementation of the HALT Act, emphasizing its rehabilitative function and program-based approach to serving incarcerated individuals.

Despite the strike’s illegal nature, Sawchuk hopes the state will listen to the officers’ concerns. Achieving balance between the governor’s office, DOCCS, and the union is crucial to resolve the ongoing issues, she said.