Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) -- Tensions escalated on Day 16 of a statewide prison strike, which has no end in sight.
State officials met with hundreds of striking officers and supporters outside the New York State Capitol in Albany on Tuesday amid the ongoing protests that call for better and safer working conditions.
The strikes are not authorized by the union and are now leading to workers being fired or possibly put in jail.
BACKGROUND: Strike continues at Groveland prison as officers face potential firing, loss of benefits | Some New York prison guards are fired for ignoring a deal to end their illegal strike | Groveland correctional officers remain on the picket line despite pending penalties
"The fact is this has never happened in New York state," said Assemblymember Dave DiPietro (R-East Aurora), a ranking member of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Correction. "If this was a hospital, if this was a school, if this was a nursing home, it would have been fixed in five minutes."
State senators and assemblymembers were among those supporting people on the picket lines in Albany, including DiPietro and state Sen. Robert Ortt (R-North Tonawanda).
"I know you'd rather be doing your job in a safe environment," Ortt said. "I know that's better for you, but you're here today not because you really chose to be here, but because people in that building made your job unsafe by having the back."
"Every single day, I am taking your testimonials that you have been giving me and trying to make common sense corrections a theme in the New York State Legislature, because we know that is not what we have right now," Ortt continued.
Gov. Kathy Hochul shared her thoughts on those rallying in Albany.
"People can be as noisy as they want and politicize this, and do whatever they want, but this is not making our state safer, and that's my No. 1 priority," Hochul said.
"When 15,000 people walk off their jobs, turn the key and leave people alone in a prison, that has to be called out," Hochul continued. "You've created very unsafe circumstances, so all the screaming and yelling won't have an effect on me. I know what I have to do, and I know they should be getting back to work."
Jackie Bray, the state's homeland security commissioner, said fewer than 10 officers have been fired so far, while thousands are in line to lose their health insurance benefits.
"They have made it a partisan issue," Ortt said. "When they refuse to make an additional crime, when you get feces and blood and semen thrown at you in these prisons, they have made it a partisan issue by, again, prioritizing those who have raped, who have murdered, who have stolen, who have assaulted, over your safety."