Collins, N.Y. (WBEN) - As strikes across New York State correctional facilities enter Day 3 on Wednesday, Congressman Nick Langworthy (R, NY-23) joined corrections officers on strike at Collins Correctional Facility to show support for their fight.
Langworthy agrees that the conditions corrections officers deal with on a regular basis at facilities across the state are far too dangerous.
"Since the implementation of the HALT Act, prison violence has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Inmate-on-inmate assaults are up 169%, and inmate-on-staff assaults are up 76%. The elected leaders who rely on corrections staff to keep order in our most violent populations have not only refused to listen, but woke policies have put the desires of the inmates over the safety of those in uniform. That is downright unacceptable.
"[The HALT Act has] put the rights of the people that earn their stay in that building above the hard working people that are there to keep this place safe. It's taken away their ability as corrections officers to enforce the rules and to disincentivize bad behavior. There are no consequences to bad actions inside a prison anymore in this state."
Langworthy has seen first-hand just how bad the conditions are at several state-run facilities, and the work hours that several corrections officers have to endure on a regular basis.
"These men and women have been subjected to mandatory overtime, that means two-to-three-consecutive shifts at 12 hours a clip," Langworthy said. "I heard stories talking to the men here today, some work 48 hours straight. What other profession in the State of New York would mandate that? No one would ever stand for that?"
It has been months on end where corrections officers have sounded the alarm that working conditions and staffing assignments in these state-run facilities are unsafe. Langworthy feels strongly that these actions of the guards on strike will force Albany to finally listen.
"The men and women who put on a uniform to protect and serve, and put their own lives at risk to do these jobs deserve elected leaders to actually have their back. It is my sincere hope that them standing out here in 39 facilities, as of this morning, all over this state, this same thing is happening, people in Albany will finally wake up and understand," Langworthy said.
Langworthy will continue to stand with the corrections officers in their push to ensure their safety at facilities across New York State.
"You stay strong, you stay tough," Langworthy said to those striking. "The public is with you, Western New York is with you, I stand with you, and many others all across the state and the country stand with you. Enough is enough."