Stefanik calls for investigation into Hochul over family leave policy
The article reports that Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has called for a federal examination into New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s handling of the family leave policy during a correctional officers’ strike earlier in the year. Stefanik alleges Hochul violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by classifying striking prison employees as absent without leave (AWOL), which resulted in their termination and loss of benefits such as health insurance and overtime pay.Stefanik also claims there is a blacklist of around 200 individuals barred from reemployment by direction of Hochul and the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).Though, DOCCS denies the existence of such a list and explains that terminated officers must submit grievances according to their collective bargaining agreement if they wish to contest terminations. Hochul’s office rejected Stefanik’s accusations, stating that the management follows legal procedures and condemns illegal work stoppages. Stefanik is reportedly considering a run for governor against Hochul in the 2026 election.
Stefanik calls for investigation into Hochul over family leave policy
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) on Tuesday called for a federal investigation into Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D-NY) use of a family leave policy for striking correctional officers.
In a letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Stefanik claimed Hochul was in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 in connection with the correction officer strike in New York earlier this year. She alleged the state required those employees with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision who were striking be classified as absent without leave, which then led to their termination.
“By classifying DOCCS employees on FMLA as AWOL, Governor Hochul and the DOCCS Commissioner caused families to lose access to health insurance, accrued overtime pay, sick leave, and unemployment benefits,” Stefanik said in a statement.
Stefanik claimed she had been “made aware” of a list of 200 individuals who should not be offered employment at the direction of Hochul and DOCCS commissioner Dan Martuscello.
“Commissioner Martuscello and you have engaged in coercive, unethical, and illegal actions against thousands of correctional officers and prison staff. This blacklist is just the latest in your abuses of power as you seek to bully and intimidate,” she told Hochul in the letter.
DOCCS, however, said in a statement that there is no such list.
“The Department does not have a ‘No Call’ list, and is not actively contacting terminated correction officers following the illegal job action earlier this year. If an individual wants to contest their termination, they must act, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between NYS and NYSCOPBA, and submit a grievance,” the statement to Spectrum News 1 said.
In a statement, Hochul’s office pushed back on Stefanik’s accusations. They pointed to Hochul’s statements throughout the strike in which she said any rehiring of fired correction officers is a matter of the legal process required of DOCCS.
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“Unlike Congresswoman Stefanik, Governor Hochul does not condone breaking the law,” a spokesperson for Hochul said. “Corrections officers who chose to participate in the illegal work stoppage earlier this year willingly put both the incarcerated population and their colleagues who remained on the job at risk. This Administration follows the law and will do so if grievances are filed. The Governor’s commitment to reforming our correctional system is steadfast and she is grateful to all the COs who stayed throughout the strike and to those who returned to their duty.”
Stefanik is said to be considering a run for governor of New York in the 2026 elections. Hochul is running for reelection.
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