NY passed the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement or HALT Act, which went into effect in 2022.
Seven inmates have died while in NY Correctional Custody during the strike.
NY Corrections Officers go on strike.
Gov. Hochul cuts off their health care coverage (including some, apparently, who were on medical leave during the strike).
Then, by executive order, Gov. Hochul removed the strikers from the registry people must be on to get hired in the state (or at county level), so not only are they fired, but can not work in law enforcement within the state of NY.
I am of two minds with this. First Gov. Hochul is not screwing around. Turning off health care for strikers seems like playing hardball. Banning from ever again working in NY seems particularly harsh.
On the other hand, public servants performing vital functions going on strike is not good. in 1981, Air Traffic Controllers had a "no strike" provision in their contract and Reagan told them to get back by a certain time and date and any no-shows were terminated. Corrections officers (at least in Virginia) are not well-paid and have a difficult job. NY Corrections officers seemed to like solitary confine for the most unruly inmates, but the law limited that practice.
This whole story is surprising given how union-friendly New York is (or was).
Seven inmates have died while in NY Correctional Custody during the strike.
NY Corrections Officers go on strike.
Gov. Hochul cuts off their health care coverage (including some, apparently, who were on medical leave during the strike).
Then, by executive order, Gov. Hochul removed the strikers from the registry people must be on to get hired in the state (or at county level), so not only are they fired, but can not work in law enforcement within the state of NY.
I am of two minds with this. First Gov. Hochul is not screwing around. Turning off health care for strikers seems like playing hardball. Banning from ever again working in NY seems particularly harsh.
On the other hand, public servants performing vital functions going on strike is not good. in 1981, Air Traffic Controllers had a "no strike" provision in their contract and Reagan told them to get back by a certain time and date and any no-shows were terminated. Corrections officers (at least in Virginia) are not well-paid and have a difficult job. NY Corrections officers seemed to like solitary confine for the most unruly inmates, but the law limited that practice.
This whole story is surprising given how union-friendly New York is (or was).
