Prison guards in Ossining, New York, went on strike for three weeks to demand better working conditions, such as addressing understaffing, forced overtime, and unsafe working conditions. The strike ended after a deal was reached where most workers returned to their jobs, but 2,000 holdouts were fired. The agreement included forming a committee to study the limits on solitary confinement as punishment, suspending these rules for 90 days, and offering referral bonuses for recruiting new officers. State officials pledged to restore health insurance for those who had it revoked, halt termination proceedings, and avoid forcing workers to work excessive overtime. However, workers who returned to work may still face penalties for violating the Taylor Law, which prohibits striking. The strike began on Feb. 17 at two prisons and spread to dozens more, despite being illegal for public employees in the state to strike. The deal was signed by the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, representing 13,500 correction officers and sergeants. State records show that correction officers were paid base salaries of $56,000 to $84,000 in 2023, with many earning additional income from overtime.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
