New York state is expected to have a formal offer to the demands of those corrections officers who have refused to work during the labor strike sometime Thursday, a spokesman for the New York State Corrections Officers & Police Benevolent Association reported.

In a statement on Thursday, James Miller, public relations specialist at NYSCOPBA said a third day of mediation ended Wednesday before midnight. NYSCOPBA leadership was meeting again with the state late Thursday morning, he said, noting he had no other information on the talks.

Later in the day, state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, issued a formal letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul demanding an immediate halt to the reckless deployment of 6,500 National Guard members in New York’s prisons and calling on Hochul to negotiate in good faith with striking correction officers.

“This crisis demands real leadership, not reckless political stunts that put lives and safety at risk,” said Borrello. “Deploying the National Guard — composed of service members untrained in corrections–to replace striking officers is not only irresponsible but also dangerous. These men and women are being thrown into volatile environments without proper training, equipment, or support, putting everyone’s safety in jeopardy.”

In his letter, Senator Borrello cited alarming reports from National Guard members and their families, who describe inhumane conditions, lack of proper safety protocols, and dangerously inadequate training. A retired Air National Guard officer warned that Guard members with no corrections experience are being assigned to oversee some of the most violent inmates in the state — calling the situation “a powder keg about to explode.”

“For two years, correction officers, their union, Republican legislators, and even the families of officers have been sounding the alarm about the growing crisis inside our prisons,” he said. “They have warned about escalating violence caused by the HALT Act, chronic understaffing that forces officers into double and triple shifts, and the refusal to mandate body scanners for visitors–allowing dangerous drugs to flood our prisons. Yet, those warnings have been ignored.”

Borrello emphasized the only viable solution is for the governor to immediately engage in serious negotiations with correction officers to address their long-standing concerns — starting with repealing the disastrous HALT Act, which deals with solitary confinement changes for inmates.

“The safety of correction officers, National Guard members, and inmates alike is at stake,” said Borrello. “It is only a matter of time before this situation results in serious injury or loss of life. That responsibility will rest squarely on Governor Hochul’s shoulders unless she takes action now.”