A tentative deal may have been reached in the correction officer strike that has impacted prisons across New York state, however, those who spoke with Spectrum News 1 on Friday say they aren't ready to put down their picket signs just yet.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced late Thursday night that a tentative deal had been reached between the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. But on Friday, some on strike at Albion and Orleans correctional facilities said the strike is ongoing, with the "strong majority" of them continuing to hold out for their original demands.

Those correction officers said they want the full repeal, or at least some permanent suspension, of the HALT Act, saying the tentative agreement does "not address or make permanent improvements for the safety of everyone in the prisons." The HALT Act restricts solitary confinement, but would require action by the Legislature for a full repeal.

While NYSCOBPA agreed to the mediated terms of the agreement, the strike is not authorized by the union and runs afoul of the state's Taylor Law that prohbits public employees from striking. Individual correction officers need to decide if they will follow the terms of the deal, rather than a union vote taking place.

Mediation efforts between the state and the union representing those workers began Monday, while the strike has been taking place for 12 days.

The deal reached between the Department of Corrections and the union calls for all employees to return to work on their assigned schedule by March 1, but the terms will not go into effect until all employees return to work.

If these conditions are met, the temporary suspension of programming elements of the HALT Act will continue for 90 days with an evaluation by DOCCS after 30 days to determine if reinstating those elements would create a “safety issue” on a facility-by-facility basis.

The deal also states that DOCCS will not discipline workers who participated in the strike; however, that does not include any Taylor Law fines. Earlier this week, the state began taking legal steps against the officers striking.

Additional conditions include changes to overtime policy, including a provision that would ensure that if an officer or sergeant volunteers for four overtime shifts in a two-week period, they will not be forced to work an additional shift. If the state violates the policy, they must pay officers $750 with credits toward the following week and a review of why the violation was necessary.

• Read the complete list of terms in the tentative agreement

“This agreement that we came together with last evening represents our commitment to creating safer work environments — which the corrections officers absolutely deserve — ensures proper staffing and management of facilities and creates a framework going forward to address concerns s they arise. This resolution is just the beginning. We want to continue addressing systemic issues," Gov. Hochul told reporters Friday at an event in Rochester.

The strike started on Feb. 17 with prison guards demanding better work conditions. DOCCS immediately accused them of taking "illegal job action," and Hochul ordered the New York Army National Guard to staff the facilities when the strike didn't end quickly. Hochul said Friday the National Guard will remain onsite at these facilities until the strike is over and likely after a transition period.

Visitations were canceled until further notice at many facilities impacted by the strikes.