Thousands of Prison Guards Fired Following Three-Week Illegal Strike

Person handing a paper with "You're Fired!" text.

New York fires over 2,000 prison guards after a three-week illegal strike, leaving the state’s correctional system in crisis with the National Guard filling gaps and a $3.5 million daily cost to taxpayers.

Quick Takes

Governor Hochul’s administration terminated over 2,000 correctional officers who refused to return to work after a 22-day unauthorized strike.
The strike violated the Taylor Law, which prohibits strikes by public employees and could cost officers double their daily salary in penalties.
New York’s prison security staff decreased from 13,500 to about 10,000, forcing the National Guard to fill positions temporarily.
Despite not meeting the 85% return-to-work threshold, the state will honor some agreement provisions, including changes to overtime work.
The state has launched an aggressive recruiting campaign while investigating multiple inmate deaths that occurred during the strike period.

Mass Terminations Leave New York Prison System Understaffed

New York state officials have fired more than 2,000 prison guards who refused to return to work after a weeks-long unauthorized strike that began on February 17. Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello announced the end of the 22-day work stoppage that severely disrupted operations across the state’s prison system. The terminations have reduced the available security staff from approximately 13,500 to around 10,000, creating an unprecedented staffing crisis that requires continued National Guard support at multiple facilities. Officials stated the strike was driven by guards’ frustration over working conditions, though it was not sanctioned by their union.

“After 22 days of an illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report it is now ended,” said Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello. “Termination letters have been sent to over 2,000 officers who remained on strike. Officers and sergeants who did not have preapproved medical leave and didn’t return by this morning, 6:45 a.m. deadline, have been terminated effective immediately.”

Failed Agreements and Continuing Consequences

The state had previously reached an agreement with the corrections officers’ union that would have ended the strike if 85% of staff returned to work. While this threshold was not met, the Hochul administration has committed to implementing certain provisions of the deal, including changes to overtime work and a 90-day suspension of a state law limiting solitary confinement. Guards who did return to work by the deadline will not face discipline for participating in the strike. The administration is now focused on stabilizing operations while the National Guard continues to provide support at affected facilities.

The strike cost New York taxpayers an estimated $3.5 million per day, compounding the financial impact of the staffing crisis. Adding to the financial burden, corrections workers who participated in the strike will face penalties under the Taylor Law, which prohibits strikes by public employees. These penalties include paying double their salary for each day they were on strike. This three-week work stoppage marks one of the most significant challenges to the state prison system in recent memory, with two previous deal attempts failing to bring staff back to work.

Investigations Into Inmate Deaths During Strike Period

Multiple inmate deaths occurred during the strike period, raising questions about conditions inside the facilities while operations were understaffed. A special prosecutor is investigating the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi, who was allegedly beaten by correctional officers. Court documents from the state attorney general’s office indicate there is “probable cause to believe” misconduct occurred in this case. Another inmate, Jonathan Grant, also died during the strike, though the connection between his death and staffing issues remains unclear. These incidents have intensified scrutiny of prison conditions.

In a separate but related investigation, six guards have been charged with murder in connection with the December death of inmate Robert Brooks, an incident that occurred before the strike began. As part of the agreement to resolve the current crisis, the state will establish a committee to study solitary confinement policies and recommend improvements to safety and working conditions in the prison system. Meanwhile, the Hochul administration has launched an aggressive recruiting campaign to address the significant staffing shortfall created by the mass terminations, aiming to restore essential services while maintaining security.