水果派AV

In a letter from DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III, employees are notified they have been absent for 10 consecutive workdays. According to the contract ratified in 2024 by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, officers who miss 10 consecutive days of work without authorization "shall be deemed to have resigned from his position" if they haven't explained their absence by the 11th day.听

The recipients of the letter are told they have been "separated from employment" effective Sunday. They must return DOCCS equipment and if they received a firearm due to their peace officer status, they must surrender it to a local law enforcement agency.听

The firings were expected after striking correction officers rejected an agreement reached between DOCCS and NYSCOPBA after four days of mediation. There was a Saturday deadline for the officers to comply with a judge's temporary restraining order requiring them to return to work. That was the first step in ensuring the agreement to end the strike would be implemented.

But many correction officers opted to remain on the picket line, despite state law prohibiting public employee strikes.听

"Over the past 13 days, we were hopeful mediation and the subsequent consent award would end this illegal strike," DOCCS said in a statement Sunday. "We did not take any action during the mediation out of respect for our employees and their families. Today we are forced to take action to enforce our laws and collective bargaining agreement.

"Terminations of officers who have been AWOL for more than 11 consecutive shifts have begun."聽

It's unknown how many officers received the termination notices. According to DOCCS, about 90% of the state's 13,500 correction officers and sergeants are participating in the strike.听

Being fired was one of the risks of engaging in an illegal strike, but correction officers believe it was necessary to protest unsafe working conditions.听

For two weeks, officers have shared their concerns. They want the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, or HALT, repealed because they believe it has fueled the spike in prison violence. The law limits the use of segregated confinement in jails and prisons.听

The officers believe more needs to be done to combat the flow of contraband into facilities. Mandated overtime is another problem. Officers have been forced to work 24-hour shifts due to a staffing shortage.听

Many of those issues were addressed in the agreement between DOCCS and NYSCOPBA. Portions of HALT will be temporarily suspended for 90 days and the department pledged to work toward reducing and eliminating mandated 24-hour overtime shifts.听

However, the officers did not think the deal went far enough. They rejected it on Friday and continued their strike.听

DOCCS has responded by ramping up pressure on the striking officers. The termination notices followed Martuscello's announcement that officers who continue their walkout will lose their health insurance on Monday.听