Correction officers at two New York prisons have gone on strike, citing dangerous working conditions. Workers at Collins and Elmira correctional facilities refused to report for their shifts on Monday, though similar protests have not been seen in Cayuga County prisons.
The officers’ union, NYSCOPBA, acknowledged the strike but did not authorize it. State officials called the action illegal and vowed to bring staff back to work. Visitation at both prisons has been suspended.
Officers have long criticized rising violence and staffing shortages in state prisons. Assaults on staff hit a record high last year, and mandatory overtime remains a major concern. While the union recently secured a new contract, these issues remain unresolved.
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