New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a deal late Thursday night to end the wildcat strike which has been affecting New York’s prison system since more than a fortnight.

Hochul stated that the state and the union of striking correctional workers had agreed on binding terms following four days’ mediation talks.

In a seven-page document detailing the agreement and referred to as a binding consensual award, mediator Martin Scheinman stated that workers must be back to work on Saturday in order to avoid discipline for striking.

The agreement includes provisions to reduce mandatory 24-hour overtime and to address staffing shortfalls.

1776 Coalition Sponsored 2025 could be the Saddest Year Israel has been at war for over 500 days. Over 50 hostages are still in captivity and the military remains on high alert. All of Israel remains under a cloud of uncertainty. The Genesis123Foundation continues to provide resources to the people of Israel and its army. These funds will be used to ensure Israel’s soldiers and security forces can safeguard Israel by providing essentials such as: Modern body armor, Medical supplies, and Life-saving equipment Will you help equip Israel’s Soldiers and Security forces?

Hochul said that the mediated agreement addresses many of workers’ concerns and puts the prison system in a safe operating environment. It also prevents any future unannounced work stops.

Hochul stated that “my top priority is to ensure the safety of New Yorkers. I have used every State resource available for the last 11 days to protect correction officers, incarcerated populations, and local communities in New York.”

New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc., the union, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The strikers were able to win several concessions including an increase in overtime pay for a limited time, a possible change in the pay scale, and a suspension of a prison law reform they blamed as making prisons unsafe.

In the coming month, the agreement will pay overtime at the rate of two and a half times the regular salary instead of the usual one and a half times. The state agreed to finish its analysis within four months of a request from a union for a salary bump for officers and sergeants.

The state will evaluate if reinstating the reform law that limits the use solitary confinement will “create an unreasonably risk” for staff and inmate’s safety.

State and union agreed to create a committee that would study the inefficiencies in staffing, and in operational efficiency at each facility to reduce strain on staff.

Corrections officers began protesting working conditions on February 17. Hochul sent the National Guard into some prisons in order to replace striking workers. The strike was in violation of a law that prohibits most public workers from striking. During the strike, several inmates died.

Scheinman, an experienced mediator and permanent arbitrator of Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, and their unions said that the parties showed “good faith” and “a huge commitment to finding solutions for the workers.”

Scheinman explained the agreement in a memo. “What became clear during the conciliation is that the relationship between the two parties and their workforce is strained.” “No one issue, law or policy can explain the current situation.” This erosion is not something that happened overnight.

As correctional officers begin to return to their jobs, the National Guard will be drawn down from prisons. The agreement states that National Guard members will remain on the job to ensure prison workers are not forced to work 24-hour overtime.