by Rachel Hunter
Corrections officers from the Gouverneur Correctional Facility went on strike this past Tuesday (Feb. 18), joining strikes at other prisons across New York State.
People stood in frigid temperatures in front of the Gouverneur Correctional Facility, and at the local strike headquarters, which have been established at Mullin’s Restaurant in Gouverneur.
New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) said in a statement that it does not sanction the strikes. Strikes by government employees are illegal under a section of state Civil Service Law commonly known as the Taylor Law. Employees lose two days of pay for every day they are on strike.
As local media has reported, the strikes began Monday at Collins Correctional Facility near Buffalo, which went into lockdown for several days last week after contraband was found. The protest has since grown to several other facilities across the state. Discontent has been growing among corrections officers as they say they are forced to work extensive amounts of overtime due to a staffing shortage.
Union leaders recently issued a vote of “no confidence” in Daniel Martuscello III, the state corrections commissioner. Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) has called for the resignation of DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III. Stec sponsors legislation that addresses many of the concerns presented by correction officers, from a repeal of HALT to mandatory use of body scanners and improved secure vendor processes. Stec reports that these bills have become more important than ever, as a series of events inside correctional facilities have imperiled the safety of officers and civilian staff. “A few weeks ago, two dozen officers and civilian staffers at Upstate Correctional Facility received medical care after a synthetic drug exposure. Last week, inmates took over dorms and forced a lockdown at Collins. These events are occurring because of HALT, loopholes in the secure vendor process and use of body scanners and reduced staffing levels. It’s clear that Commissioner Martuscello is incapable of responding to these very real safety concerns and has lost the trust of our correction officers. For the safety of these dedicated men and women to help restore order and faith in the leadership structure of DOCCS, Commissioner Martuscello must resign or be removed from his post,” Stec said. Senator Stec penned a letter to Gov. Hochul calling for Commissioner Martuscello’s resignation.
On Tuesday, Senator Walczyk called on Governor Hochul to stop ignoring the pressing needs of correction officers and to take immediate action to ensure their safety and well-being. Correctional Officers (COs) are advocating for essential and simple improvements, including the implementation of body scanners, vendor secure mail options, and the repeal of the HALT Act—simple yet critical requests that have been overlooked and ignored by the Albany Democrats and Governor Hochul. In response to the ongoing unrest, Senator Walczyk issued the following statement: “It is no surprise that we find ourselves in this situation. Time and again, Corrections Officers have raised their voices for support and necessary reforms, yet their pleas have gone unanswered. Instead of prioritizing the safety of our COs across the state, Governor Hochul and her colleagues have enacted policies that hinder their ability to do their jobs effectively and safely. Our Corrections Officers face life-threatening conditions every day in an environment that has descended into chaos. The absence of meaningful reform has put them in harm's way. It is high time we prioritize their safety and stop coddling criminals,” Walczyk emphasized. Senator Walczyk has a proven track record of advocating for Corrections Officers during his more than six years in the State Legislature. He has opposed measures granting the Governor the authority to close state prisons, called for the implementation of a secure vendor program, and championed the end of double-bunking in facilities. Additionally, he sponsored legislation to place drug-sniffing dogs in every state prison in New York. Walczyk is also a cosponsor of S.2656, which seeks to repeal the HALT Act—a law he opposed that limits the tools available to COs for maintaining order within correctional facilities. Senator Walczyk remains committed to fighting for the rights and safety of Corrections Officers, ensuring that they have the support they need to carry out their essential duties. Senator Walczyk represents four correctional facilities in his District, Gouverneur, Riverview, Cape Vincent and Hale Creek.
NYS Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush issued the following statement: “The safety of the men and women inside our state correctional facilities has been increasingly at risk due to bad liberal policies such as the HALT Act where inmate on staff assault rates are up 76% and inmate on inmate assaults are up 169%. Staff and family pleas for help have been ignored compounded by massive staff shortages and forced closures causing this to be at a crisis and unstainable level of chaos. The Governor has mobilized the National Guard, but she should have been mobilizing common sense and prioritized safety in our correctional facilities. There needs to be an immediate course correction and I am prepared to apply as much outreach and pressure as possible.” Assemblyman Blankenbush along with Senators Dan Stec and Mark Walczyk introduced legislation earlier this month to require the use of body scanners in NYS Correctional Facilities by inmates and visitors.
NYS Governor Kathy Hochul on Feb. 18 announced preparations to utilize the New York National Guard to protect correction officers who are currently on the job, individuals in DOCCS care and the communities surrounding these correctional facilities. The Governor also directed Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello and senior Administration officials to meet with leaders from the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association to call for an end to the unlawful work stoppage that is causing significant public safety concerns across New York.
“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately," Governor Hochul said. "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.”
Governor Hochul prepared to deploy members of the New York National Guard to DOCCS facilities (Feb. 19) if the unlawful work stoppage does not end, and take appropriate disciplinary action as necessary. The Governor has also directed her Counsel to work with the Office of the Attorney General on legal mechanisms such as the Taylor Law which will compel employees to return to work.
DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said, “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.”
Governor Hochul reports that 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 with the State of New York 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. Governor Hochul has also fought successfully to pass new laws and implement administrative changes to protect corrections officers. This includes advancing legislation to authorize the use of body scanners in correctional facilities and securing funding to procure the deployment of this technology. The Governor also supported DOCCS implementation of the vendor package program leading to large reductions in contraband entering our correctional facilities. Governor Hochul has also expanded efforts to increase recruitment and hiring of new correction officers.
Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall raised the topic during the Feb. 18 meeting of the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees. “In case you haven’t heard, there’s been a number of things that have happened in the past month or two involving the Department of Corrections… There’s what happened at Marcy, and there’s been other labor relations problems at a couple of prisons, but one in western New York particularly, where for a while correctional officers had to give up some of the dorms that they were supervising, because of all the violence. As a result of that, some prisons decided to have some work stoppages, to some might be known as a wildcat strike, but nevertheless work stoppages. It is not sanctioned by the union, but nevertheless, it is important. They think it is important, and it is growing by the minute. Last night, on my way home, it was 14 and by this morning it was 26 correctional facilities. Here, locally, there was a protest in Ogdensburg this morning. I did not going to that, but their assemblyman did. Our State Senator, Mark Walczyk, came here to Gouverneur, to the prison. I went up this afternoon. It is an interesting situation. There’s a bunch of demands from the organized labor or the Corrections and members. If you haven’t heard Mullin’s is the strike or “work interruption” headquarters. That is a good way to put it… I was there for a bit, along with NYS Assemblyman Scott Gray. That is what is going on. I was probably underdressed for it, and I got (a DOCCS hat). One of those correctional officers felt sorry for an old guy with no hat. It was cold… there were burn barrels and the whole nine yards. Anyway, that is what is going on. It is a very unfortunate situation. As of an hour ago, the National Guard has been put on notice. They have not been activated. But her administration said that if this does not end by tomorrow night, they will be activated. Some of the people I talked to said, it will not be over tomorrow night. It would appear we will have some members of the National Guard at the correctional facility by Thursday or Friday at the latest. It’s unfortunate to say the least, in many ways. There you have it. I figured I would say something…” Mayor McDougall also reported that the Prison Advisory meeting, scheduled for Feb. 19, had been canceled.
During New Business, Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine asked: “Will the National Guard be held to the same workplace conditions as the correctional officers are held to?” Mayor McDougall said: “There’s ways around that. As many people know, the governor is very busy dealing with the Mayor of New York City. I am not saying, but I think our correctional facility and all the rest of them are very important too… This wouldn’t be the first time that the National Guard responded when prisons went on strike. It was a different strike, a different union in about 1980. In an emergent situation, things happen. The same work standards? I don’t know how that’s possible.”
“So, the answer to that question is no,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said.
“I doubt it,” Mayor McDougall said. “It is a huge problem, and hopefully it gets rectified sooner than later…”
The North Country community is coming to the aid of the local correctional officers, promising them financial assistance, donations, and other means of support. Monetary donations alongside donations of food items, plastic cutlery, take-out containers, and more are being accepted as long as the strike continues. For more information, stop by Mullin’s Restaurant at 1180A US-11, Gouverneur.