NY prison chief warns striking officers: Return to work or lose health care
March 2, 2025, 6:54 p.m.
A recent agreement included key concessions for workers, such as increased overtime pay and a review of staffing shortages.
New York state corrections officers who continue to strike will lose health coverage if they don’t return to work by Monday, according to a warning from the state’s top prison official.
The ultimatum from Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III comes after a mediated deal last week ended the 11-day work stoppage, which was illegal under state law.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the agreement — reached after four days of state-backed mediation between the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association — which included key concessions for workers, such as increased overtime pay and a review of staffing shortages.
But in a statement Sunday, Martuscello told officers that the window to return was closing.
“My message to you is this is the final push. Tomorrow, Monday March 3, anyone who remains on strike will have their’s and their dependents health care removed retroactive to the first day they were AWOL, and you will not be eligible for COBRA,” he said. “I want you to come back to work today. If you missed your shift, you should still report, and know that we will continue to have open dialogue on making facilities safer places to work.”
The governor’s office did not immediately comment on the latest directive.
The strike, which began Feb. 17 at two facilities before spreading statewide, was driven by officers’ concerns over staffing shortages and prison safety. Officers have also blamed the 2021 HALT law — which restricts the use of solitary confinement — for making it harder to maintain discipline. As part of the agreement to end the strike, the law will remain partially suspended for 90 days, according to officials.
The strike strained prison operations across the state, prompting Hochul to deploy more than 3,500 National Guard personnel. There were no departmental disciplinary actions for any of the thousands of corrections officers who returned to work by Saturday, Hochul said when the deal was brokered.
The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, which represents officers, did not officially back the strike. A spokesperson for the union declined to comment.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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