DOCCS begins firing correction officers on strike

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced on Sunday that it has begun to fire correction officers who remain on strike.

“Today we are forced to take action to enforce our laws and collective bargaining agreement,” DOCCS said in a statement. “Terminations of Officers who have been AWOL for more than 11 consecutive shifts have begun.”

Officers were told on Saturday that they would receive termination notices on Sunday if they remained on strike, and that their healthcare would be removed retroactive to the first day they went on strike. Earlier on Sunday, Commissioner Daniel Martuscello reiterated that message in an email to correction officers, asking them to come back to work.

“My message to you is this is the final push,” Martuscello wrote. “I want you to come back to work today. If you missed your shift, you should still report, and know that we will continue to have open dialogue on making facilities safer places to work.”

DOCCS also publicly released the letter that is being sent to striking correction officers, which can be seen in full below.

The strike began on Feb. 17 with correction officers hoping for a series of changes in working conditions, including new limits to overtime and a reversal of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act. The strike began days after Collins Correctional Facility went on lockdown due to an incident.

A tentative agreement was reached on the 11th day of the strike, Feb. 27, involving New York State, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).

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Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12.

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