The union representing New York’s correctional officers issued a forceful response Wednesday to a state report on the unsanctioned prison strike that disrupted correctional operations earlier this year, blaming Albany for years of worsening conditions and legislative neglect.
The 52-page document, released by the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), accuses state leaders of ignoring repeated warnings about unsafe prison conditions, chronic understaffing, and rising violence. The union said these conditions ultimately pushed officers to a breaking point, triggering the February 17 strike that NYSCOPBA did not authorize but says it understood.
“While NYSCOPBA unequivocally condemns the strike as illegal under the Taylor Law and did not sanction it, we still believe it is essential to explain the dire working conditions that have continued to deteriorate each passing year without change,” the union wrote.
Citing internal statistics, NYSCOPBA said assaults on staff have risen 47% and inmate-on-inmate attacks have jumped 118% since the implementation of the HALT Act in 2022, which limited the use of solitary confinement. At the same time, the number of filled correctional officer positions fell from over 19,000 in 2016 to just 14,095 by 2024.
The report outlines what the union calls a “doom loop” of burnout, forced overtime—including 24-hour shifts—and mass resignations. NYSCOPBA leaders said they warned state officials of a potential strike and even showed Governor Hochul’s aides video testimony from frustrated officers, but received no action in return.
The union also detailed its efforts during and after the strike to broker peace, secure mediation, and improve conditions. While the strike was never officially sanctioned, NYSCOPBA said it worked to get a Memorandum of Agreement signed with the state, leading to improved compensation and recruiting incentives.
Among the post-strike gains listed in the report were $9,000–$10,000 in average annual pay increases, referral bonuses, college degree stipends, and improved hiring practices. But union officials warned that systemic legislative changes are still needed, especially as more prisons face closure.
“There has never been a more difficult time to work in corrections in New York State,” the union wrote. “Our facilities are needlessly dangerous because of political choices… Our members and their families are worth the fight.”
NYSCOPBA’s current contract expires in March 2026. The union plans to launch a new round of negotiations with a detailed survey to collect input from members and build a stronger bargaining strategy.
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