Sen. Dan Stec

Assemblyman Scott Gray

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State Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Scott Gray have introduced legislation that would permit reinstating 2,000 correctional officers fired by Governor Kathy Hochul following a wildcat strike in February and March.

The bill, S.7310, would grant a grace period for the officers to return to work without retribution, they said.

“If New York State takes prison safety and costs seriously, Governor Hochul and Democrat leaders would end this vindictive firing and ban of 2,000 trained, dedicated correction officers,” said Stec. “These men and women went on strike because they were in fear for their health and well-being due to unsafe conditions. In their absence, the state has deployed the National Guard, which is not trained or equipped for these circumstances. Instead of maintaining this new, dangerous status quo I urge the governor and Democrat leaders to take up mine and Assemblyman Gray’s bill allowing these 2,000 COs the ability to return to work.”

According to a release from the two representatives, State Budget Director Blake Washington estimated that the deployment of the National Guard to correctional facilities has cost New York taxpayers more than $100 million per month.

Hochul first sent the Guard into prisons in February when thousands of COs walked off the job following numerous exposures to illicit substances that entered multiple prisons.

In some cases COs and medical staff reportedly required Narcan to treat the exposures, according to anonymous sources who spoke on condition of anonymity with North Country This Week.

“The 2,000 correction officers who were fired are being punished simply for speaking out against unsafe working conditions. Instead of addressing their concerns—just as any employer should handle workplace issues—the state fired them and treated them as if they were the criminals. Now, due to severe staffing shortages, DOCCS is forced to release prisoners early and, after a long delay, has finally acknowledged the real deficiencies in our prison system in a

recently released video. However, before this situation spirals any further, we need to take immediate action to correct these wrongs, starting with reinstating the correctional officers who are ready and willing to return to the vital work they were doing. This is how we can truly begin rebuilding and restoring our prison system and public safety,” said Gray.

Despite the Taylor Law being in effect, COs walked off the job and demanded improved staffing, working conditions, body scans, mail scans and various other safety enhancements be made before returning to work.

DOCCS and NYSCOPBA officials met numerous times, eventually settling on an agreement that would allegedly help with the staffing crisis, as well as ensure safer working conditions.

But shortly after the deal was struck, many officers did not return to work.

That led to Hochul firing them and eventually passing an executive order that would bar them from state, county or local government employment.

She has since indicated she will allow the order to expire and it appears the state legislature has no plans to codify the order into law.