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At a press conference Wednesday in Albany, NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers and Executive Vice President Matt Keough addressed the ongoing strike and the union's efforts to resolve the dispute. Keough and Summers were part of the union's team that participated in four days of mediation with the state. Those sessions resulted in an agreement, or consent award, to end the work stoppage.Ìý

James Miller, NYSCOPBA's spokesperson, read a statement from the union's leadership acknowledging that the agreement "did not meet the expectations of the thousands of officers that continue to strike." 

Although some correction officers returned to work, most rejected the deal. Those who didn't end their walkout will lose their health insurance and could be fired.Ìý

During a question-and-answer session, the responses from Summers and Keough reflected where they stand with the union's rank-and-file members. NYSCOPBA's leaders were asked what the endgame is for the strike.Ìý

"Honestly, I don't know," Summers said. "I can't answer that question. Obviously we are trying to get them to go back inside." 

When asked about comments from officers that the union has let them down, Keough responded, "Have we acted on their behalf on a legal aspect? Yes, we have. Have we acted in a standard that they believe we should be upholding? No, we don't. Our union membership has no faith in us right now."

Keough continued, "(Summers) and I were part of the mediation team and they don't believe that the stuff we presented during mediation was their voices, when it was." 

The agreement addressed several issues, including overtime mandates, recruitment and a partial 90-day suspension of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, or HALT. NYSCOPBA wants HALT repealed because the union believes it has caused a spike in prison violence.Ìý

It's unlikely the state Legislature will support repealing HALT, but it could be amended. Summers said they need to "make it safer for both sides, for the officers and the incarcerated individuals." 

NYSCOPBA is also contending with "outside influences" who, according to the union's leaders, are negotiating with the state on behalf of striking officers. Keough said they learned from social media that Daniel Martuscello III, the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, was on a video conference with striking officers.Ìý

Keough and Summers could not identify the individuals who are purportedly representing the striking officers, but they oppose that approach. With the agreement reached through mediation, it would be legally binding if the officers returned to work. They warned that any deal reached outside of mediation that wasn't negotiated by the union may not have the same protection.

NYSCOPBA did not sanction the strike, and that won't change. If it backed the walkout, Summers said the fines would cripple the union. It is illegal for public employees to strike in New York. Unions that back public employee strikes face severe penalties. Union presidents have served jail time for ordering work stoppages.Ìý

"We would be gone within eight days, maybe nine days at the most, and then I wouldn't be here to protect them," Summers said.Ìý

The strike, which began Feb. 17, is in its third week. On Tuesday, hundreds of striking officers traveled to Albany for a large rally at the Capitol. Demonstrations continue at correctional facilities, including Auburn and Cayuga.Ìý

At the height of the walkout, DOCCS reported about 90% of the state's correction officers were absent without leave. Martuscello said officers at 38 of the state's 42 correctional facilities participated in the strike. Officers at six prisons have returned to work, but most at other state facilities remain on the picket line.Ìý