State Lawmaker accuses Governor Hochul for being “unfit” for office amidst ongoing standoff with striking correctional officers

ALBANY, NY- New York State Senator Mark Walczyk (R) says that Governor Kathy Hochul is “unfit” for office amidst the ongoing standoff with striking correctional officers.

Over the weekend, the DOCCS issued a memo, where any remaining CO’s failing to report back for duty would subsequently be considered AWOL.

A termination letter has been posted to our website.

“Her decision to fire CO's and cancel health insurance for their kids is a betrayal of employees who wear the state flag on their uniform and do a dangerous job to keep the rest of us safe,” Senator Walczyk claimed.

“For years, and especially the last 2 weeks, corrections officers have been advocating for safety and demanding better working conditions. They want to do the job and return home to their families after each long shift.”

See the Senator's full statement below:

"Governor Hochul has once again demonstrated she's unfit. Her decision to fire CO's and cancel health insurance for their kids is a betrayal of employees who wear the state flag on their uniform and do a dangerous job to keep the rest of us safe. We're already short-staffed and this stupid move undermines the entire system and destroys morale of the remaining staff who are left to shoulder the burden of her misguided policies.

Hochul's still done nothing to stop the rampant inflow of drugs in our facilities. She's still refused to listen to the concerns of staff who rightly demand the use of special housing to separate violent reoffenders from the rest of the prison population.

The light at the end of the tunnel for protesters turned out to be a freight train and the consequences, I fear, will be disastrous for inmates, staff, and Corrections Officers.

For years, and especially the last 2 weeks, corrections officers have been advocating for safety and demanding better working conditions. They want to do the job and return home to their families after each long shift.

Now the Governor is straining the National Guard in the same dangerous environment, without an end in sight.

If a private sector business were treating employees this way, she would be standing at a podium outside the company's headquarters with the Attorney General, demanding accountability. These COs are employees of New York, and their concerns about safety are entirely valid. They deserve better.

Governor, it’s time to show empathy, common sense, and leadership. Do your job."

Despite the blowback Governor Hochul is enduring with this conflict, she has remained strong in her stance – condemning the strikes as illegal.

“Over the past 13 days we were hopeful mediation and the subsequent consent award would end this illegal strike,” New York’s DOCCS said in a statement Sunday evening.

“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.”

NYS prison image.