Albany, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued another warning for striking corrections workers on Tuesday, as mediation continues between the union and state officials.
Hochul says her administration has worked tirelessly over the last nine days to resolve this ongoing strike at more than 30 correctional facilities in New York. She notes mediators have been brought in, and talks continue Tuesday.
"We want to find out what the issue is, because the individuals who've walked out — in an unsanctioned strike, unapproved by the union — have yet to tell us the issues," said Hochul during a statement on Tuesday.
Hochul reminds corrections officers those striking are in violation of the New York State Taylor Law, and also in violation of a temporary restraining order to return to work.
"We offered an amnesty period where they could go back to work, no questions asked. We also repealed a staffing memo that had been viewed as controversial. We also suspended portions of the HALT law, which requires a certain amount of time out and other activities that we do not have the staffing to implement," Hochul noted.
According to Hochul, she's had to deploy 6,500 National Guard members to provide security at the prisons affected by the ongoing strikes.
"Thank God for the National Guard that are in there, doing work that they never anticipated. And the condition inside the prisons is stabilized," Hochul added.
While she understands the difficulties of the job for corrections officers, Hochul says this situation is absolutely untenable, especially with how some prisons were left unguarded.
"The incarcerated population was left unguarded. There were people from other unions, people who work in health care and the commissary, who were left unprotected by these actions," Hochul added.
As for the warning to those corrections officers still striking:
"We've also let them know that if you are striking, you're AWOL [absent without official leave]. You no longer secure the right to have health benefits from the state, that goes away," Hochul said. "Your legal proceedings have started. Your legal representation is not covered by the union because this is not sanctioned by the union, they will not pay for this."
The Hochul administration says 9-in-10 corrections officers are illegally striking.
