PLATTSBURGH — In a four-and-one-half-minute speech Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Kathy Hochul called for the unsanctioned strike by state correction officers to end now.
Hochul said the nine-day strike, which she called illegal, was putting a tremendous strain on the corrections system and the state.
“We need them back to work. This must end immediately,” Hochul said at a media briefing in Albany.
HOCHUL SPEAKS OUT
Hochul said her administration continues to work to end the strike, which is not sanctioned by the New York State Correction Officer Police Benevolent Association union. She referred to mediation sessions between the state and NYSCOPBA that began Monday and will continue this week.
“We want to find out what the issue is, because the individuals who’ve walked out in an unsanctioned strike unapproved by the union have yet to tell us the issues,” Hochul said.
Striking officers have said repeatedly that they are refusing to work because they are concerned about staffing levels, inadequate measures to keep troublesome contraband out and the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act, which strictly limits the length of time and which inmates can be sent to special housing units.
Hochul said the state has, “done everything we can to encourage them to get back to work.”
“They know they’re 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 We also repealed the staffing memo that had been viewed as controversial,” Hochul said.
She also said that the state suspended portions of the HALT Act and other activities that they do not have the staffing to implement.
“I’ve also had to deploy 6,500 members of the National Guard to do the jobs of those who walked out. 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,” Hochul said.
“We have tried hard to end this. I’ve had conversations with many, many leaders, but we need a good faith effort to resolve this, starting now. I’m prepared to do that. I understand there’s a lot of frustration about the long hours. I have long stood with the corrections officers of this state, more than, I’m going to guess, any other governor, and say these conditions are hard. I understand that we need more of you on the job. I get that. 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.”
‘I HAVE A LAW TO ENFORCE’
Hochul said there were people from other unions, people who work in healthcare and the commissary inside prisons, that were left unprotected by the actions of the striking officers.
“Thank God for the National Guard that are in there doing work that they never anticipated. and the condition inside the prisons is stabilized,” she said.
Hochul said the state has had no choice but to start legal action against the striking officers.
“It is not something I ever would want to do, but I have a law to enforce,” she said adding that the state let the striking officers know that they are considered AWOL (absent without leave) and that means they no longer secure the right to have health benefits from the state.
She also mentioned that legal representation by the officer’s union is not covered by the union because the strike is not sanctioned by the union.
She also praised the officers that are showing up for work.
“These are difficult, difficult jobs. I know that,” she said.
But she also said that officers took an oath to protect the public.
“We have to get back to ensuring that that oath is kept,” she said.
“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. I’m working hard to address that, but we also have… recruitment issues… These are hard jobs. Not everybody’s signing up for them. We’re doing the very best we can.”
Hochul said the state prison population has declined by half over the last number of years, and the state is working to consolidate prisons to make sure, “that we are maximizing every bed in our 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. So that’s where we are. That’s the status. We’re very engaged and we look forward to resolution as soon as possible.”