(DailyAnswer.org) – Multiple New York counties are defying Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive order that bans rehiring approximately 2,000 correctional officers who were fired after striking over dangerous prison conditions.
At a Glance
- Chemung, Oneida, and Rensselaer counties are legally challenging Governor Hochul’s ban on rehiring fired correctional officers
- Approximately 2,000 officers were terminated after a three-week strike over dangerous prison conditions, not wage demands
- State lawmakers have condemned the executive order as an abuse of authority and “vindictive” retribution
- National Guard members lacking proper training have been deployed to fill staffing gaps in prisons
- The ban affects employment opportunities in both state and county government positions
Counties Mount Legal Challenges Against Governor’s Ban
Three New York counties have taken formal action against Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive order prohibiting the rehiring of correctional officers fired during a recent strike. Chemung County has filed a lawsuit challenging the order’s constitutionality, while the Oneida County Board of Legislators passed a resolution authorizing legal action against what they describe as gubernatorial overreach. Meanwhile, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has publicly declared his intention to defy the order, calling it “reprehensible and vicious” in its impact on former officers seeking employment.
The counties assert that Hochul’s order unlawfully extends her authority into local governance matters, preventing them from hiring qualified personnel based solely on their participation in the labor action. The executive order effectively blacklists approximately 2,000 former correctional officers from future employment within the New York State Retirement system, affecting positions at both state and county levels. This unprecedented move has united officials across these counties in opposition, regardless of political affiliation.
State Lawmakers Condemn Executive Order as Retribution
New York State legislators have joined county officials in condemning the governor’s actions. Assemblymen Phil Palmesano and Christopher Friend, along with State Senator Tom O’Mara, have voiced strong criticism of what they view as executive overreach and punitive measures against workers who were protesting dangerous conditions. The lawmakers are demanding that Governor Hochul rescind the order immediately, arguing that it violates civil service protections and unfairly penalizes workers who were advocating for workplace safety.
“Governor Hochul’s Executive Order barring fired Corrections Officers from any employment within the New York State Retirement system demonstrates an astounding vindictiveness against former correctional officers and their families, and the communities where they have long lived and worked, that in the long run can only serve to continue this state’s decline.” – State Senator Tom O’Mara.
Assemblyman Palmesano suggested that rather than punishing correctional officers, the governor should have declared a staffing and safety crisis in the state’s prisons. The lawmakers highlighted that the striking officers were not seeking pay increases but were instead protesting increasingly dangerous working conditions and critical staffing shortages. Representative Nick Langworthy has gone further, calling for a federal investigation into the governor’s actions.
Prison Crisis Deepens as National Guard Fills Staffing Gaps
The firing of approximately 2,000 correctional officers has exacerbated existing staffing problems in New York’s prison system. During the three-week strike, the State Corrections Department bypassed the union, sending direct orders for officers to return to work along with notices of health insurance cancellation. When officers continued their protest over safety concerns, the mass terminations followed, creating an immediate staffing emergency across state facilities.
“Governor Hochul’s latest assault on our hardworking corrections officers amounts to nothing more than callous and petty retribution. These brave men and women engaged in a strike as a last resort because they were pushed to a breaking point and their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.” – Rep. Nick Langworthy .
As a stopgap measure, National Guard members have been deployed to manage prisons, despite lacking the specialized training necessary for corrections work. State Senator Daniel Stec has raised additional concerns about these deployments, noting that guardsmen activated on state orders are ineligible for Veterans Affairs care if injured while serving in these facilities. The crisis has highlighted longstanding issues with prison staffing, safety protocols, and the state’s ability to maintain proper security in correctional facilities.
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