Striking continues at 32 state correctional facilities almost one week after a resolution that included a temporary suspension of the HALT Act was announced by the New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

A spokesman for the state Department of Correctional and Community Supervision on Wednesday night noted that while a portion of the staff has returned, a much larger number is missing from work. “We have had approximately 2,500 staff return to duty and we welcome them back,” he said. “There continues to be over 7,500 staff members continuing the illegal strike.”

James Miller, spokesman for NYSCOPBA said in a statement last week that after three days of mediation, NYSCOPBA and New York state has reached an agreement and Consent Award that was presented to the members who were continuing to refuse to work. “The decisions to return to work is not a collective vote by members of NYSCOPBA,” Miller said. “It will be up to each individual who currently is refusing to work to decide whether to return to work or risk termination, potential fines and possible arrest for violating the court order.

“NYSCOPBA has encouraged each member to return to work based on what was achieved in the Consent Award.”

Part of that document included the 90-day suspension of the HALT Act, which deals with handling solitary confinement, by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. “After 30 days from the date of the Consent Award, the Commissioner of DOCCS will begin to evaluate the operations, safety, and security of our facilities relative to staffing levels and determine whether re-instituting the suspended elements of HALT would create an unreasonable risk to the safety and security of the incarcerated individuals and staff,” the legal agreement says. “This analysis will be done on a facility-by-facility basis and will be ongoing.”

That agreement, however, has done little to change sentiment. State officials said Wednesday more than 20 termination letters were sent to correction officers or sergeants. Also, approximately 5,200 letters were sent to staff notifying them that their health insurance coverage is canceled. The staff that returned to work had coverage reinstated.