ROCHESTER, NY (WHAM) — The strike by correction officers across New York has reached its 10th day, with ongoing mediation talks between the state and the union representing the officers.
The union has labeled the strike unauthorized, while the state has deemed it illegal under the Taylor Law.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said approximately 15,000 correction officers are participating in the strike. Hundreds of these officers have been served court papers, demanding they end the strike and return to work.
Jared Cook, senior counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC, explained the legal implications.
“Unlike other unions, which can strike if their demands aren’t met, public employee unions are legally prohibited from striking,” he said. “Now that doesn’t mean that they don’t do it.”
Cook said that under state law, penalties for the striking officers could include docking two days of pay for each day they are on strike.
“That’s a substantial amount of money for people to lose who are trying to maintain a household, they have bills to pay,” said Brian Clifford, a retired correction officer from Groveland Correctional Facility.
“If you’re violating a court order, you could be held in contempt of court, that can result in fines,” Cook said. “That can even potentially result in an arrest or in jail time.”
Despite the Taylor Law, workers choose to strike over long-standing issues.
“This isn’t just something that’s been going on since the strike started 10 days ago,” Clifford said. “We’ve been trying to address this for the past two years essentially about the staff shortages.”
Cook noted that while arrests are possible, they are typically limited to union leaders who encourage unlawful strikes.
