The Peru Gazette

            Senator Dan Stec (R, C-Queensbury) and Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) announced legislation permitting the reinstatement of 2,000 correction officers fired by Governor Hochul in the aftermath of the CO strikes for prison safety measures. Senate Bill S.7310 would grant a grace period for officers terminated by the governor to return to work without retribution.

            State Budget Director Blake Washington has estimated that deploying the National Guard into correctional facilities has cost New York more than $100 million a month. The reinstatement of 2,000 officers – given a median annual salary of $75,000 and fringe rate of 60 percent – would cost the state $20 million in monthly costs. Allowing these officers to return to work not only saves taxpayers money, but also ensures that qualified, trained personnel are working inside correctional facilities.

            “If New York State takes prison safety and costs seriously, Governor Hochul and Democrat leaders would end this vindictive firing and ban of 2,000 trained, dedicated correction officers,” said Stec. “These men and women went on strike because they were in fear for their health and well-being due to unsafe conditions. In their absence, the state has deployed the National Guard, which is not trained or equipped for these circumstances. Instead of maintaining this new, dangerous status quo I urge the governor and Democrat leaders to take up mine and Assemblyman Gray’s bill allowing these 2,000 COs the ability to return to work.”

“The 2,000 correction officers who were fired are being punished simply for speaking out against unsafe working conditions. Instead of addressing their concerns—just as any employer should handle workplace issues—the state fired them and treated them as if they were the criminals. Now, due to severe staffing shortages, DOCCS is forced to release prisoners early and, after a long delay, has finally acknowledged the real deficiencies in our prison system in a recently released video. However, before this situation spirals any further, we need to take immediate action to correct these wrongs, starting with reinstating the correctional officers who are ready and willing to return to the vital work they were doing. This is how we can truly begin rebuilding and restoring our prison system and public safety,” said Gray.