Correction officers’ union and Hochul reach deal that could end wildcat prison strike

 An ongoing wildcat strike by correction officers who staff more than 30 New York prisons could soon be over after the guards’ union reached a deal with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office Thursday night.

The mediator-negotiated deal suspends aspects of the HALT Act, a law that drastically cut down on solitary confinement in state prisons, and includes a promise to ease mandatory overtime shifts — two major sticking points in the guards’ decision to walk off the job on Feb. 17.

Correction officers argued the HALT Act, which aims to improve conditions for inmates, limits their ability to control unruly prisoners and makes their jobs tougher — and even dangerous.

The HALT suspension would last at least 90 days as part of the deal, though it could face opposition from progressive lawmakers. After 30 days, prison officials will begin to determine if re-instituting suspended elements of the law would create “an unreasonable risk” to staff and inmates, the deal states.

The two sides also agreed to minimize and potentially end 24-hour mandatory overtime shifts — another grievance by striking workers.

Staffing and operational inefficiencies will also be examined with the hope of providing more relief to existing staff, according to the paperwork.  

The development comes on the 11th day of the strike that has thrown the state prison system into chaos after guards hung up their uniforms over unsafe working conditions.

“Working with a mediator, we have reached a consent award to address many of the concerns raised by correction officers, put DOCCS back on the path to safe operations, respect the rights of incarcerated individuals and prevent future unsanctioned work stoppages,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement announcing the breakthrough.

While the deal reached Thursday is a significant step toward ending the crisis, the striking guards would also need to buy into the agreement since they have claimed the union hasn’t protected their interests.

The union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, said it didn’t approve of the strike, citing state law that prohibits it for public sector employees in New York.

The striking guards have until Saturday — or their first scheduled shift day after that — to return to work to get a pass on any disciplinary action as part of the agreement.

The work stoppage started earlier this month at a pair of prisons after a brief inmate uprising happened in one of the upstate facilities.

From there, it snowballed to dozens of prisons having correction officers refusing to clock in.

Employees who walked off the job have even ignored a state judge ordering them back to work after Hochul filed a lawsuit against them last week.

Over the weekend, state troopers started serving hundreds of guards on strike with summons and the corrections department threatened to dock their pay and cancel their health insurance.

Thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to work inside the prisons that remain understaffed, forcing inmates to be confined to their cells.

Two inmates were found dead Wednesday at separate prisons affected by the strike, CBS 2 NY reported.

An additional inmate was found dead Saturday at a prison with striking guards.