Attica, N.Y. (WBEN) - As the wildcat strike conducted by corrections officers in New York State officially enters its third week, hundreds of protesting workers are planning to take their fight to Albany on Tuesday.
Retired Elmira superintendent Ray Coveny says the goal is to get the attention of state officials and lobbyists who will be at the capitol.
"It can bring a human aspect to the governor and to the commissioner. With us being out here, the community always already knows what we're subjected to. I feel that the commissioner [Daniel Martuscello], himself, and [Gov. Kathy] Hochul are detached. There's an element of detachment. They don't understand the human aspect of it all," said Coveny in an interview with WBEN. "To take it down there, she and he, if they so choose, kind of put a face to these men and women that are hurting. It ain't about money. It's about physical. They are physically hurting. Not only are they mentally hurting, they're physically hurting and they want something done."
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Coveny says his son has been subjected to more violence in one year working in the corrections system than he ever was throughout his 38 year-long career.
"We need the state to provide a service to our men and women that are serving the community, so when they come out, they can survive beyond 59 years and a half of their life. That's the statistic for men and women in correctional institutions that work there. They only survived a 59 and a half. I'm a lucky one. I'm just lucky. But many men and women, if they don't die of natural causes, they kill themselves, and that's real," Coveny explained.
One Attica corrections officer who was holding the line on Sunday says he doesn't plan on going to Albany, but also doesn't plan on going back to work anytime soon.
"This is our jail, and this is where we're staying, and if they want to talk to us, they should come see us. We're not getting paid right now. Why should we spend our gas money?," stated the CO. "I have a lot of time on the job. I don't have a lot of time left to do. I'll die before I go in there and eat a revenge sandwich that Kathy Hochul made."