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A DOCCS spokesperson confirmed in an email to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that the department has been holding individual meetings with officers who were fired and filed grievances. Some of those meetings, the department spokesperson said, "have resulted in settlement agreements for a limited number of former employees to return to work."

Ë®¹ûÅÉAV obtained the settlement offer that has been sent to the officers fired for their alleged participation in the three-week strike. If the officers sign the agreement, their employment and benefits will be restored. DOCCS agreed not to pursue disciplinary action against the officers, while the officers would drop their grievances and any litigation.

Officers who return to work would be subject to a "disciplinary evaluation period" for the remainder of their career with DOCCS. The provision prevents them from violating the Taylor Law's prohibition on public employee strikes.

The officers would also be placed on a separate disciplinary evaluation period that will include a three-year probation. The terms would cover "alleged misconduct," such as mistreating incarcerated individuals, unauthorized absences and "publication, including through social media, of disparaging comments about the state and its officers during such period."

According to the settlement agreement, disparaging comments are defined as any that "disparage, defame or otherwise damage or assail the reputation, integrity or professionalism of the state and its officers."

Craig Morgan, who was fired after 21 years as a correction officer, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV it's a "C-Y-A letter" from the state.

"As a former supervisor, it's appalling and disgusting," he said. "It's a slap in the face, to be honest with you."

The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing correction officers and sergeants, confirmed the offers are for correction officers who were fired while on family or medical leave, vacation or out of work due to a job-related injury. 

Morgan is one of the officers who was fired while on leave due to an injury he sustained at work. He said officers like him "did nothing wrong" because they were out of work due to medical reasons.

Other officers filed grievances, according to the union, including those who returned to work but were considered absent without leave and lost their health insurance.

"The officers currently being offered settlements have to determine on their own whether they will accept the settlement," NYSCOPBA said.

It's unknown how many officers will be offered the settlements. NYSCOPBA said it filed 3,200 grievances on behalf of its members. The state fired 2,000 officers to end the three-week strike.

If fired officers agree to the settlements, it could help DOCCS address a staffing crisis that worsened due to the recent work stoppage. According to the department's latest report, it lost 2,700 correction officers in four months.