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“The strike is over.”
That’s what New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said in an update Monday evening, 22 days after correction officers across the state walked off the job and four different agreements that attempted to bring them back to work.
Martuscello said more than 5,000 officers have come back, including 1,200 on Monday alone, while termination letters were sent to more than 2,000 workers who remained on strike as of Monday afternoon.
“Officers and sergeants who did not have pre-approved medical leave and did not return by this morning 6:45 a.m. deadline have been terminated effective immediately,” Martuscello said.
Martuscello said the state did not reach the 85% staff-return rate that was required under a new mutual agreement with the workers’ union, that had been reached over the weekend, “I am still committed to providing some of the critical changes and benefits to my employees.”
The commissioner said he and Gov. Kathy Hochul are working to honor the March 6 memorandum of understanding, including:
“I want you to know that I heard you. Your safety, your family, your work-life balance are important to me,” Martuscello said.
Looking forward, he said the state is looking to ramp up recruitment efforts.
