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Thomas Mailey, a DOCCS spokesperson, said Saturday that the correction officers who are AWOL will be docked pay and their health insurance will be terminated. State law prohibits public employee strikes and workers can lose two days' pay for every day they are on the picket line. 

"In addition, those participating in the illegal job action will face administrative penalties along with department discipline for violating the state's Taylor Law and a judge's temporary restraining order," Mailey added. 

A judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring the correction officers to end their strike and return to work. However, the striking officers have defied that directive. 

The strike began at three prisons Monday and expanded to more, including Auburn and Cayuga correctional facilities, by Tuesday. The officers, frustrated by what they view as inaction by state government, are protesting unsafe working conditions and various policies. 

The correction officers are demanding the state repeal the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, a law that limits the use of solitary confinement in prisons. HALT has been blamed for the record numbers of assaults on incarcerated individuals and staff reported in 2024. 

Officers have other demands, including various recruitment ideas to address a severe staffing shortage. Mandated overtime, which has been used due to staffing levels, is also an issue. 

DOCCS initially responded that legislative action would be needed or that some of the demands violate the three-year contract ratified by New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association members in 2024. But the agency has suspended parts of HALT and DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III rescinded a Feb. 10 memo that considered 70% as full staffing levels in prisons. 

The department also pledged not to punish correction officers who ended their strike and returned to work by 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Several officers returned to duty, according to Mailey. 

However, many officers continue to participate in the strike. Gov. Kathy Hochul has activated the National Guard to provide security at prisons affected by the work stoppage. 

Hochul and Martuscello urged striking correction officers to return to work and labeled the demonstration as "illegal and unlawful." Mailey reiterated that message Saturday, saying the strike is "undermining the safety of COs currently on the job, the incarcerated population and the dozens of communities where prisons are located." 

DOCCS and NYSCOPBA will participate in mediation to end the strike, with sessions beginning this week. Although NYSCOPBA represents most correction officers, it did not sanction the strike.