Empire State Today

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox has criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for her decision to order corrections officers on medical leave back to work. Cox described the move as a "heartless betrayal" and accused Hochul of mismanaging the response to an ongoing strike by corrections officers.

Cox stated, "New Yorkers are witnessing yet another shameful display of Kathy Hochul’s incompetence as she botches the response to the ongoing corrections officer strike." He argued that her administration's handling of the situation has led to chaos within the state's prison system, putting officers, inmates, and public safety at risk.

The controversy centers around an order from Hochul that requires corrections officers on medical leave, including those injured while on duty, to return to work without proper medical clearance. Cox called this decision an example of Hochul's "callous disregard for hardworking New Yorkers."

"Hochul’s heavy-handed tactics have turned a labor dispute into a full-blown crisis," Cox continued. He urged the governor to reverse her decision and provide necessary medical protections for corrections officers. Additionally, he called for serious efforts to address what he described as a deteriorating situation in the state’s prison system.

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