有料盒子

有料盒子 obtained a copy of the proposal that includes a committee to explore changes to the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, a 2022 law that restricts the use of segregated confinement in prisons. The panel's membership would represent the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, employee unions, and four state lawmakers.聽

HALT is one of the main issues for the striking officers, who say that it's contributed to the rise in prison violence. They want HALT repealed, but that's unlikely to happen in the Democratic-led state Legislature that passed the legislation four years ago. However, legislative leaders signaled they are willing to consider amending the law.聽

Mandated overtime has been another problem mentioned by correction officers, many of whom have been forced to work 24-hour shifts. If they agree to the terms in the proposal, officers would work 12-hour shifts until prisons resume normal operations, then they would work eight-hour shifts with scheduled days off. For the first 30 days after they return to duty, they will be paid double time and a half for overtime shifts.聽

DOCCS agreed that the state would expedite the review of increasing salary grades for correction officers and sergeants. This would increase pay for the positions, which could help recruitment and retention efforts amid a staffing shortage.聽

Officers who accept the offer and return to work will not be disciplined. Employees who resigned or were fired will be allowed to return to duty without penalty.聽

DOCCS also confirmed that it has rescinded a Feb. 10 memo classifying 70% as full staffing levels in prisons.聽

The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing state correction officers and sergeants, was not involved in the negotiations. The union's leadership said Wednesday that "outside influences" were in talks with the state to resolve the strike.聽

"For the state to entertain anyone other than NYSCOPBA to represent the interests of our members would be going down a path that will only prolong the strike," NYSCOPBA said in a statement. "NYSCOPBA will continue to advocate for its members and push the state for real reforms that address the difficult working conditions that exist in our prisons."聽

The decision whether to accept the offer will be made by officers at individual correctional facilities. As of early Thursday, it had not been announced if officers at Auburn and Cayuga correctional facilities accepted the deal. DOCCS did not respond to a request for comment.聽

The strike began Feb. 17, with officers at 38 of the state's 42 prisons participating in the walkout. DOCCS reported that about 90% of the state's 13,500 correction officers were absent without leave at the height of the strike.聽

DOCCS and NYSCOPBA entered mediation and reached an agreement after four days of meetings. The deal included many of the provisions in the latest offer, but there wasn't a commitment to reexamine HALT. DOCCS agreed to temporarily suspend portions of the law for 90 days. Officers criticized that language because they said the state would restore HALT once prisons return to normal staffing after the strike ends.聽

As the strike entered its third week, the state sought to crack down on striking officers. DOCCS announced that those who continued to strike and did not return to work would lose their health insurance. They also faced arrest or termination for their involvement in the work stoppage.聽