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Oneida County is filing a lawsuit against New York Governor Kathy Hochul following her executive order that prevents local governments from hiring corrections officers who were fired after a recent prison strike. The county claims this order violates the rights of the terminated officers and the county's home rule authority.
The lawsuit, announced by County Executive Anthony Picente, comes after the Oneida County Board of Legislators unanimously approved a resolution authorizing legal action against the state. Picente stated that the lawsuit will be filed within 48 hours, after which the county intends to hire as many of the former officers as possible to fill vacancies in the sheriff's department and other county agencies.
The executive order, signed by Governor Hochul, bars the fired officers from obtaining any state job and recommends their removal from the Central Registry of Police and Peace Officers. This move has sparked criticism from local officials, including New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, who called the order "an egregious example of executive overreach" and urged its immediate rescission.
The strike, which began on February 17, was in protest of working conditions, including staffing shortages and mandatory overtime. Despite a deal to end the strike, around 2,000 officers were terminated for not returning to work, violating the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking.
County officials, including Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol, argue that hiring these officers would alleviate staffing shortages and reduce overtime burdens. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the governor's order and restore the ability of local governments to make their own hiring decisions.