A correction officer strike may be over, but a poor sentiment remains.

On Monday, New York fired more than 2,000 prison guards Monday for failing to return to work after a weekslong wildcat strike that crippled the state’s correctional system, but said enough officers had come back on the job to declare the illegal work stoppage over.

“After 22 days of an illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report it is now ended,” Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said during a virtual press briefing.

The state and the guards’ union struck a new deal to end the strike this weekend, but it was contingent on at least 85% of staff returning to work by Monday morning. Although the number returning fell short of the 85% goal, Martuscello said the state would honor the deal’s overtime and some other provisions.

The labor action impacted locations in both Collins and Brocton.

He said the National Guard would remain in place at prisons in a support position while the department undertakes an aggressive recruiting campaign to attract additional employees. About 10,000 security staff are available to work in prisons across the state, he said, down from about 13,500 before the wildcat strike.

“Termination letters have been sent to over 2,000 officers who remained on strike. Officers and sergeants who did not have preapproved medical leave and didn’t return by this morning, 6:45 a.m. deadline, have been terminated effective immediately,” Martuscello said.

An email seeking comment was sent to the guards’ union, the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association.

Guards upset over working conditions began illegally walking off the job Feb. 17 at many state prisons, forcing Gov. Kathy Hochul to send National Guard troops in to maintain operations. Inmates have complained about deteriorating conditions behind bars since the walkout. And the death of a 22-year-old man this month at a prison near Utica is being investigated by a special prosecutor.

Multiple inmates have died since the walkouts began, though it was unclear if strike-related prison conditions played a role in the deaths.

On Tuesday afternoon, state Sen. George Borrello issued a statement regarding Hochul’s order to ban fired officers from working again in the public sector calling it “vindictive and authoritarian.”

He noted: “These men and women weren’t criminals or corrupt. They were public servants driven to the breaking point by dangerous policies and the outright disregard for their pleas for help. Now, Hochul is punishing those who stood up for their safety and their families.

“This isn’t leadership – it’s political retribution at its worst. A governor who silences dissent rather than exercising leadership by addressing profound safety failures is not fit to lead.

“To the officers impacted by this disgraceful action: you are not forgotten. I will keep fighting for you and pushing back against this abuse of power. This fight is far from over.”