Massive Terminations Follow Illegal Strike Resolution

New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration fired over 2,000 prison guards who failed to return to work after a three-week illegal strike, leaving the state prison system with a severe staffing shortage and relying on National Guard assistance.

Quick Takes

More than 2,000 New York state prison guards were immediately terminated for refusing to return to work by the deadline, following a 22-day unsanctioned strike.
The strike violated New York’s Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking, and will cost guards who participated double their daily salary for each strike day.
The Hochul administration is proceeding with parts of a negotiated agreement despite not meeting the 85% staff return requirement, including overtime adjustments and a committee to study solitary confinement policies.
National Guard troops continue supporting prison operations while the state launches an aggressive recruiting campaign to address the drop from 13,500 to approximately 10,000 security staff.
The illegal strike has cost New York taxpayers an estimated $3.5 million daily during the three-week disruption.

Strike Officially Ended After 22 Days of Disruption

Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello declared an end to the three-week unauthorized prison guard strike that severely disrupted New York’s prison system. “After 22 days of an illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report it is now ended,” Martuscello announced at a press conference. The strike, which began on February 17 over working conditions and safety concerns, persisted despite multiple attempts to resolve the standoff. The walkout was not sanctioned by the officers’ union and violated the state’s Taylor Law, which prohibits strikes by public employees.

The commissioner confirmed that termination letters were sent to over 2,000 officers who did not return to work by the Monday morning deadline. This mass termination follows two failed agreements attempting to resolve the labor dispute and represents one of the largest simultaneous firings of public safety employees in recent state history.

Agreement Implementation Despite Falling Short of Requirements

Despite the firings, the Hochul administration will implement portions of a previously negotiated agreement, even though the required 85% staff return threshold was not met. The agreement includes several concessions to address officers’ concerns, including a 90-day suspension of the state’s HALT Solitary Confinement Act to evaluate its impact on safety. Additionally, guards who did return to work by the deadline will avoid disciplinary action for their participation in the strike, while those who remained on duty throughout will receive recognition for their service.

The agreement also includes establishing a committee to study solitary confinement policies and develop strategies to improve safety and working conditions within state prisons. Officers who returned to work will shift to 12-hour schedules temporarily to help manage the reduced workforce, as the state’s security staff has dropped from 13,500 to approximately 10,000 personnel.

Ongoing Consequences and Investigation Into Prison Deaths

The illegal strike has had serious financial implications for both the officers involved and New York taxpayers. Under the Taylor Law, corrections workers who participated face penalties including paying double their daily salary for each day they were on strike. State officials estimate the strike has cost taxpayers approximately $3.5 million per day during the three-week period. The National Guard remains deployed at various prison facilities to supplement staffing while the state launches an aggressive recruiting campaign to address the significant personnel shortage.

Multiple inmate deaths occurred during the strike period, adding to the urgency of resolving the situation. Investigations are ongoing into the deaths of inmates Messiah Nantwi and Jonathon Grant during the strike, though the direct connection to staffing shortages remains unclear. Court documents indicate the state attorney general’s office found “probable cause to believe” that correctional officers were involved in Nantwi’s death. A separate investigation continues into the December death of inmate Robert Brooks, with six guards charged with murder in that case.