AUBURN, N.Y. (NCC News) — Prison workers across the state say that working conditions have gotten less safe since the HALT Act was introduced exactly three years ago. Gov. Hochul offered a 90-day suspension of the law, along with increased retirement and healthcare benefits. While prison workers want to get back to work to ensure the safety of inmates, they are skeptical. They feel a deal should include a longer suspension with mandatory review of the law, as well as less enforced overtime. Some officers claim they have had to work 24 hour shifts, directly impacting their job performance.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Unsafe working conditions spark NYS prison strikes
Luke Welch: The City of Auburn, where census data shows roughly 40% of its adults are working blue collar or state-sponsored jobs, is facing a standstill in one sector, correctional officers at its prison.
Anonymous Correctional Officer: 2017, we started informational picketing, the way we are supposed to do it, eight years later conditions have gotten worse year after year.
Welch: With the state-wide prison strikes reaching its 11th day, Gov. Hochul reiterated the work already done to help prison staff in her call to end the protest.
Hochul: I have fought alongside their union to improve salaries, benefits, working conditions. And a fair contract was negotiated and agreed to only last March.
Welch: While employees continue to protest at the Auburn Correctional Facility behind me, staffing shortages have many concerned about the well-being of those inside.
Hochul: You are jeopardizing the safety of their colleagues, the prison population and causing undue fair for the residents in the surrounding community.
Welch: But residents of Auburn, are showing their support for the CO’s while driving by on State Street… And those on strike who requested to remain anonymous feel their concerns, aren’t being heard…
Anonymous CO: This is not a wage issue. Our problem is the tool of segregation is not used enough to keep control of the prison.
Welch: The officer is referring to the state HALT Act, which provided new guidelines for solitary confinement. Now, the only inmates who can be transferred to isolation: those who use a weapon forcefully against another inmate or officer.
Anonymous CO: Odds are, you cut staff, the retaliation of what a gang member would do to you is completely different.
Welch: Data from the department of corrections shows that assaults on correctional officers have increased 60% since the HALT Act was introduced, but they aren’t the only ones at risk.
Anon. CO: Inmate on inmate assaults are up over 160%. So who are you gonna cut? Your gonna cut the guy who is actually being good inmate, trying to do his time, go to his program and go home. He’s gonna get his face cut open because he has no way to retaliate against you.
Welch: Seven inmates have died to “preventable causes” since the strikes have started, including two at the Auburn facility to medical cases that weren’t responded to for hours.
Hochul and the DOCCS commissioner have placed a deal on the table, but officers are hesitant..
Anon CO: We agree to that, in 90 days the commissioner can say this is back to normal, and this is all for nothing, we didn’t fix anything.
Welch: And with a lack of communication between union leaders and those on the picket line, tension of what’s to come is rising.
Anon. CO: I cannot be the first generation of corrections officers at this facility that leaves the place worse then I started.
Welch: But the community hopes to see a deal reached soon, so that the safety of all inside is guaranteed.
In Auburn, Luke Welch, NCC News