Overview

• The illegal strike by New York prison guards began on February 17, involving 15,000 workers at its peak and leaving 7 inmates dead under undetermined causes.
• State officials reached a tentative deal offering improved working conditions, including limits on mandatory overtime and temporary suspension of parts of the HALT Act restricting solitary confinement.
• The agreement rescinds administrative and civil penalties for guards who return to work by Friday but threatens termination and further legal action for those who do not comply.
• National Guard troops, deployed to secure prisons during the strike, faced challenges due to inadequate training and resources, raising safety concerns for both soldiers and inmates.
• The union representing correctional officers criticized the agreement, claiming it was negotiated without their involvement and does not adequately address members' needs.