New York state authorities and a union representing corrections officers have reached a deal to end the most widespread strikes in the state’s prisons in more than four decades, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.
It was unclear how the union would enforce the agreement, as it did not authorize the stoppage. The striking officers also defied a judge’s order earlier this month to return to work.
Corrections officers began a series of wildcat strikes on Feb. 17 at the Collins and Elmira correctional facilities over what they described as severe staff shortages, dangerous conditions and excessive mandatory overtime. The stoppages spread to all but one of the state’s 42 prisons, and Governor Hochul deployed National Guard troops to help address the staffing shortage.
Through mediation, the state reached an agreement with the union for a consent award to address the officers’ complaints, Governor Hochul said in a statement. The award includes changes to improve staffing and reduce mandatory overtime.
The award, by the arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman, followed four days of mediation proceedings involving the state corrections department and the union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
Under the award, the corrections department would not discipline striking workers as long as they returned to work by Saturday.
The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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