SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH AT 1 P.M. -- Despite a tentative deal being reached between DOCCS and NYSCOPBA, corrections officers are still holding the line for day 21 of the strike. They say this new deal is once again a slap in the face.

COs said that New York State is using strong arms tactics to get people back to work. Striking officers said it doesn't make any sense to threaten/fire people when negotiations are ongoing.

WENY spoke to COs from Elmira Correctional Facility who said they want to go back to work, they don't want to be on strike. They said it all boils down to one thing: safety.

Corrections officers said it's never been about the money, it's about safer conditions for everyone inside correctional facilities. COs said this is why they're upset because their concerns aren't being fully heard/addressed.

NEW YORK STATE (WENY) -- After 20 days of the statewide prison strikes, the New York State Department of Corrections announced a deal has been reached between the state and NYSCOPBA.

A memorandum of agreement was posted on the DOCCS website on Saturday night. The MOA says an agreement has been reached to end the strike, and address concerns about employee safety and quality of working life in prisons.

Included in the agreement is a temporary 90-day suspension of the HALT Act, as well as the formation of a committee to review the act to focus on the safety of staff and inmates.  Changes to overtime are addressed, saying the goal is to minimize and eliminate 24-hour mandatory overtime.  DOCCS will also address the screening of legal mail and look into TSA screening devices, according to the agreement.

The MOA says the state will reinstate health insurance back to the first day of absence, as long as the COBRA rate is paid and employees return back to work.  The MOA is operational when 85% of the pre-strike workforce returns to work before 6:45 a.m. on March 10th.  Officers who return to work will not be issued notices of discipline, and DOCCS will rescind probationary terminations upon return to work, according to the state. 

The DOCCS commissioner, the NYS Director of Employee Relations, and the President of NYSCOPBA signed this agreement.