New York Corrections Officers on Strike Must Return to Work Or Lose Health Benefits

The commissioner of the New York State Department of corrections said Sunday that if employees who continue to strike did not return to work will lose health benefits for them and their families. 

Strikes can be beneficial when trying to negotiate with an employer, but things have gotten a bit ugly with the current strike going on with corrections officers at prisons across New York State. Now, it looks like those who have been on strike will lose their health benefits going back to when the strike first began.

After a tentative deal was reached on Friday to suspend to use to solitary confinement, many expected workers to return to their posts on Saturday. However it appears that did not happen and action is being taken by the New York State Department of Corrections. In a statement made on Sunday Commissioner Daniel Murtuscello said that officers who did not return to work on Monday March 3rd would see their health benefits cut, and they would be retroactive.

The statement is pretty clear, and many people are not happy that the DOCCS is using healthcare to bargain with the employees. Comments on X were very much in favor of the officers and employees who remain on strike in order to gain better and safer working conditions at NYS prisons.

One user commented on the post saying that doesn't sound much like open dialogue. Others said that they're holding the striking officers hostage by doing this.

As far as the return to work goes, that is not being mandated by NYSCOPBA, according to the report from Gothamist. A NYSCOPBA spokes person said it is not dependane ton a collective vote.

It will be up to each individual who currently is refusing to work to decide whether to return to work or risk termination, potential fines and possible arrest for violating the court order.

The entire thing has gotten a bit ugly and all we can hope is that there is a peaceful resolution to this soon for all involved.