“The strike is over.”

That’s what New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said in an update Monday evening, 22 days after correction officers across the state walked off the job and four different agreements that attempted to bring them back to work.

Martuscello said more than 5,000 officers have come back, including 1,200 on Monday alone, while termination letters were sent to more than 2,000 workers who remained on strike as of Monday afternoon.

“Officers and sergeants who did not have pre-approved medical leave and did not return by this morning 6:45 a.m. deadline have been terminated effective immediately,” Martuscello said.

Martuscello said the state did not reach the 85% staff-return rate that was required under a new mutual agreement with the workers’ union, that had been reached over the weekend, “I am still committed to providing some of the critical changes and benefits to my employees.”

The commissioner said he and Gov. Kathy Hochul are working to honor the March 6 memorandum of understanding, including:

• Establishing a committee focused on safety dealing directly with the effects of the HALT Act
• Reinstating the health insurance effective immediately of those employees who had it terminated on the day of their return
• Allowing staff to continue working 12 hours until each facility has returned to normal operations where they can then return to eight-hour shifts
• Continuing 2.5-times hour overtime starting 30 days from the day employees return to work
• Expedite the reallocation process for both correction officer and sergeant to within two months, a process that usually takes almost 18
• Not issuing any issues of discipline to any employee who returned to work
• Confirmation that the DOCCS memo issued on Feb. 10 requesting a "comprehensive review" of security staffing with the goal to cut staff to 70% of current levels is rescinded

“I want you to know that I heard you. Your safety, your family, your work-life balance are important to me,” Martuscello said.

Looking forward, he said the state is looking to ramp up recruitment efforts.