BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

This article was originally posted at 4 p.m. Feb. 18.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is preparing to deploy the New York National Guard to protect the "safety of correctional officers, DOCCS population and upstate communities."

But corrections officers across the state are saying that protecting their safety is what the state has failed to do in recent years.

The news comes as more than a dozen New York State Correctional facilities are seeing employee walkouts and strikes.

Rallies are being held locally at Riverview Correctional Facility and in Ogdensburg as well as prisons in Malone and Gouverneur.

Corrections officers shared concerns with North Country This Week about working conditions, but were unwilling to go on the record due to fear of retaliation from their employer.

New York State prohibits public employees from striking, but there have been reports of mass call-ins by corrections officers and photos circulating on social media including signs that say strike.

Many complaints have been raised by corrections officers, including dangerous working conditions such as the reports of drug exposure which led to hospitalizations of corrections staff at Upstate Correctional Facility recently.

Among the rallying messages being issued by gatherers at the event are calls for the repeal of HALT, a bill that limits the length of time anyone can spend in "segregated confinement."

“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately," Governor Hochul said in a prepared statement "We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities. I have directed my Administration to meet with union leadership to resolve this situation and have also ordered the National Guard be mobilized to secure our correctional facilities in the event it is not resolved by tomorrow. Correction officers do difficult work under challenging circumstances, and I have consistently fought for them to have better pay and working conditions and will continue to do so.”

The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc. also denounced all strikes, job actions, slowdowns, call-ins, and other similar actions.

The union called for any plans and actions to cease immediately in the release.

"Job actions/strikes have serious consequences including, but not limited to, immediately docking your pay at a rate of two days of pay for each day of the job action, plus suspension, discipline and potential termination," the release stated.

Involvement by union officials exposes those officials and the union to investigations, criminal charges, termination, loss of dues checkoff, loss of certain collective bargaining rights, and fines, the release states.

"Union officials have a legal obligation to condemn and stop all strikes, job actions, slowdowns, call-ins or other similar actions and a failure to do so could jeopardize NYSCOPBA's ability to represent the interests of its membership," they wrote.

But that message runs contrary to that of North Country lawmakers, including Senate and Assembly representatives.

Senator Mark Walcyzk issued a press release to call on the governor to "stop ignoring the pressing needs of corrections officers."

“It is no surprise that we find ourselves in this situation. Time and again, Corrections Officers have raised their voices for support and necessary reforms, yet their pleas have gone unanswered. Instead of prioritizing the safety of our COs  across the state, Governor Hochul and her colleagues have enacted policies that hinder their ability to do their jobs effectively and safely.

Our Corrections Officers face life-threatening conditions every day in an environment that has descended into chaos. The absence of meaningful reform has put them in harm's way.  It is high time we prioritize their safety and stop coddling criminals,” Walczyk emphasized.

He said he has a proven track record of advocating for corrections officers during his more than six years in the legislature, something he will continue to do as he continues to serve.

In a press release issued on Feb. 18, Assemblyman Scott Gray  said he "wholeheartedly supports" the correctional officers during "these challenging times."

“I have personally visited two facilities with plans to visit a third tomorrow. It is evident that change and improved working conditions are urgently needed to ensure the safety and well-being of both the officers and their families," he said.

Gray said the safety of the officers and security of the state prisons is at risk, noting that lower staffing numbers have played a huge part in that.

"The unrest is a reflection of the growing crisis facing New York’s correctional facilities. Last year, a record 1,760 assaults on prison staff were documented. If that doesn’t exemplify the dangerous conditions our officers face, I don’t know what does," he said.

He called the conditions officers are working in as "unacceptable," calling out the governor's office and state leaders in the process.

“Instead of providing our correctional officers with the support they need, this administration continues to push policies like the HALT Act, which only make their jobs more dangerous," he said.

State Senator Dan Stec went a step further, calling on DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III to resign from his post.

“A few weeks ago, two dozen officers and civilian staffers at Upstate Correctional Facility received medical care after a synthetic drug exposure. Last week, inmates took over dorms and forced a lockdown at Collins. These events are occurring because of HALT, loopholes in the secure vendor process and use of body scanners and reduced staffing levels. It’s clear that Commissioner Martuscello is incapable of responding to these very real safety concerns and has lost the trust of our correction officers," Stec said.

"For the safety of these dedicated men and women and to help restore order and faith in the leadership structure of DOCCS, Commissioner Martuscello must resign or be removed from his post,” Stec said.

Stec noted he also sponsored legislation calling for the repeal of the HALT Act, which many say has made state prisons unsafe to work in.

He also called for mandatory body scanners and improved secure vendor processing, two critiques that have been raised following reports of numerous drug overdoses by prisoners and repeated exposures by corrections officers and medical staff at multiple prisons, including Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone.

Help St. Lawrence County Stay Connected!

We’re glad you read this article reported by the staff of NorthCountryNow.com.

If you haven’t done so already, please consider subscribing to ensure you have full access to all the news and info about St. Lawrence County.

Your subscriptions make it possible for us to provide trustworthy local news, promote our many community events, and encourage community dialogue.

Please click here to subscribe today!