ALBANY, NY (WENY) -- New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced she plans to utilize the New York National Guard to respond to state correctional facilities starting Wednesday, if department of corrections officers do not return to work.

On Monday, corrections officers at the Elmira Correctional Facility in Elmira, and Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County refused to report to work for their shifts. There are currently DOCCS staff remaining inside the prison continuing to work as the other COs have staged outside the facility. 

On Tuesday, the work stoppage has spread to other state prisons across New York, including Five Points Correctional Facility in Seneca County, and Groveland Correctional Facility in Livingston county, among dozens of others.

“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately," Governor Hochul said. "We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities. I have directed my Administration to meet with union leadership to resolve this situation and have also ordered the National Guard be mobilized to secure our correctional facilities in the event it is not resolved by tomorrow [Wednesday]. Correction officers do difficult work under challenging circumstances, and I have consistently fought for them to have better pay and working conditions and will continue to do so.”

Under New York's Taylor Law, state employees are prohibited from striking. Gov. Hochul said the administration will take appropriate disciplinary action if necessary, including having the Attorney General's office compel the employees to return to work. 

DOCCS employees say they want to call attention to what they say are unsafe work conditions, and staffing shortages. 

"They're taking it upon themselves right now, due to working conditions and due to the fact that they know that what they're doing right now is unsustainable," said Kenny Gold, Vice President of the Western District for NYSCOPBA, the union that represents corrections officers. NYSCOPBA says it does not sanction the demonstration. 

DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello, III stated, "Earlier today we met with NYSCOPBA President Summers and his Executive Board to discuss a path forward to returning all facilities to normal operations and ending this illegal strike. The safety and security of the staff and incarcerated population is paramount to me. I value the hard work and commitment of the men and women at DOCCS who have had to sacrifice time with their families due to the current staffing shortage. However, this illegal job action involving NYSCOPBA members is causing irreparable harm to the operations of the department and jeopardizing the safety and security of their co-workers within these facilities. We will continue to develop strategies to reduce assaults and to bring more staff on board with NYSCOPBA, the recognized bargaining agency for correction officers and sergeants. There is always room for progress and for disagreements and we welcome continued dialogue with the union at the table. At this time, I am urging all those on strike to end this job action.”