NY governor says she will send National Guard to prisons if CO's don't stop "illegal" strike | Law Enforcement Today

ALBANY, NY - On Tuesday, February 18th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she would deploy National Guard troops to "restore order" as a strike among correctional officers across the state entered into its second day.

According to the Associated Press (AP), state officials as well as union leaders said that the strikes violate rules for state employees. In a statement, Hochul said, "The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately. We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities."

The state correction officer union said that its "members' backs are against the wall" as they demand higher pay, stricter security checks for prison visitors, and a rollback on prison reforms, including those that limit solitary confinement. It is unclear exactly how many correction officers are refusing to enter the facilities, but at least some staff have refused to enter their shifts at 25 prisons. There was picketing outside multiple facilities.

On Monday, February 17th, while outside the Collins Correction Facility, Kenny Gold of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association said, "They know thye can be fined and disciplined." According to the New York Post, the protests caused officials to cancel all visitations at Collins, Elmira, Attica, Auburn, Five Points, Upstate, Clinton, Wende, and Eastern NY correctional facilities until further notice.

A source familiar with Hochul's threat to send the National Guard said that if it comes down to it, the reservists will be assigned to housing units, watch towers, and entrances at various prisons. Inmates would stay in their cells when being monitored by the guardsmen, with both groups' only interactions being limited to providing meals.

A Hochul rep said, "We are closely monitoring staffing levels at all correctional facilities and how many correction officers are participating in the illegal and unlawful job action. We'll make a determination tomorrow as to where and how many NY National Guard members are deployed based on staffing levels at each facility."

Hochul, who defended her efforts to secure better pay and working conditions for correction officers, also directed her administration to meet with union leaders to resolve the protests. The current contract with the union's 17,000 members, negotiated with Hochul's administration in 2024, runs through March 31, 2026. 

Collins prison, a medium-security facility, was put on lockdown recently after an inmate injured three correction officers as workers complained about understaffing and mandatory overtime. Staffers were also alarmed about a recent agency memo suggesting there would be a reduction in positions. DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said in a statement, "There is always room for progress and for disagreements and we welcome continued dialogue with the union at the table. At this time, I am urging all those on strike to end this job action."

Upstate Republication lawmakers said they remain in support of the protesting officers and blasted the Democratic governor for her alleged inability to safeguard state prisons. Sen. Pete Oberacker said, "New York's prisons are becoming war zones due to the Hochul Prison Crisis. Correctional facilities are on the brink of collapse." He alleged that the assaults on officers have hit record highs. 

He added, "Her policies have emboldened violent criminals, weakened discipline inside prisons, and left officers without the backup they need to do their jobs safely." Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-Niagrara) said in a statement, "Deploying our National Guard makes this situation even more dangerous. As a former member of the New York National Guard, I have the highest regard for these soldiers. However, this is not what they are trained for."