Hochul fires 2,000 striking prison guards – Washington Examiner
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced the firing of approximately 2,000 prison guards who participated in an illegal strike. The strike lasted for 22 days and was not sanctioned by the union representing the guards, who had disagreements with the state over working conditions. Despite the strike ending, an agreement reached over the weekend regarding overtime and working conditions did not meet the required return-to-work threshold, prompting Hochul to take action. She expressed a commitment to public safety and gratitude towards those who remained on duty.An executive order was signed, preventing the hiring of any individual terminated for participation in the strike.Meanwhile, over 6,000 National Guard members will continue to support the correctional facilities during this transition.
Hochul fires 2,000 striking prison guards and bans them from future state jobs
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced roughly 2,000 prison guards who continued to strike illegally on Monday would be fired and banned from future state jobs.
The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association reached an agreement to end the 22-day wildcat strike of correctional officers over the weekend. The agreement which included provisions on overtime and other improvements to working conditions, would mostly be honored despite the 85% return-to-work threshold not being met on Monday, state officials said.
“My top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers — and I have been working around-the-clock to end this illegal work stoppage and restore safety in our correctional system,” Hochul said in a statement. “We have taken unprecedented steps to protect public safety, and I am grateful to the National Guard and DOCCS personnel who stayed on the job, going above and beyond to protect their fellow New Yorkers.”
“Today, we can finally say this work stoppage is over and move forward towards making our prisons safer for all, supporting our correctional staff, and recruiting the correction officers of the future,” she added.
After announcing the nearly 2,000 workers who did not report to work Monday would be fired, Hochul signed an executive order Tuesday declaring that “no New York State agency shall hire or appoint any individual” terminated for attempting to continue the illegal strike.
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The governor’s office also said the more than 6,000 National Guard members who had been stationed in the absence of the striking correctional officers would continue to be deployed in the interim.
The strike, which began last month, was not sanctioned by the union representing correctional officers and had multiple failed attempts at resolution. Hochul and other Empire State officials consider the latest agreement to be a success at ending the strike.
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