Statement from Senator George Borrello on Governor Hochuls Decision to Deploy the New York National Guard To DOCCS Population and Upstate Communities

“What does Governor Hochul’s tone-deaf press release reveal? It shows she either doesn’t get it or simply doesn’t care about the real issues our correctional staff are facing. This isn’t about money. This is about the lack of safety and egregious violations of labor protections that every other employer in the state must follow.

Hochul's shameful silence on the deplorable conditions in our state's prisons speaks volumes. The state employees, including correctional officers, whom she is obligated to protect, face daily dangers due to conditions intentionally imposed by a radical far-left legislature and her own administration. Instead of stepping up as the leader she claims to be and responding to the reasonable concerns of corrections officers, she has chosen to deploy the New York National Guard as a strike-busting force-a move that’s as cowardly as it is ineffective.

By deploying the National Guard, she’s not only dismissing the officers’ legitimate concerns but also sets a dangerous precedent for handling labor disputes in our state. Correctional officers are on the front lines, working under incredibly challenging conditions, and their strike is a desperate cry for help, highlighting the urgent need for better working conditions and adequate staffing. By choosing to threaten and intimidate those who are standing up for their rights and safety, the Governor fails to address the root causes of the strike. Deploying the National Guard is a heavy-handed tactic, not a solution. Her actions show that she’s more interested in punishing those fighting for a safer workplace than in actually solving the crisis at hand.”