New York: More than 2,000 prison guards were fired on Monday after they failed to return to work after a week-long strike in New York. The administration said enough officers had returned to work to announce the end of the strike. “After 22 days of illegal strikes, the governor and I are pleased to announce that the strike is now over,” Commissioner Daniel Martusillo said during a “virtual” news conference. The state and the prison guards’ union reached a new agreement this weekend to end the strike, but it was contingent on at least 85 percent of the staff returning to work by Monday morning. That number fell short of the 85 percent target required to move the deal forward. Martusillo said the state would honor overtime and some other provisions of the agreement. He said the National Guard would continue to fill support positions at prisons while the department began an accelerated hiring campaign to recruit additional staff. He said about 10,000 security personnel are available to work at prisons across the state, down from about 13,500 before the strike. He said more than 2,000 striking officers have been sent termination letters. Officers and sergeants who had previously been approved He had not taken a medical leave and had not returned by 6:45 a.m. today, he was fired immediately. An email was sent to the guards’ union, the New York State Correctional Officers and the Police Benevolent Association, seeking comment. Several prison guards went on strike on February 17, citing dissatisfaction with working conditions, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to send in National Guard troops to maintain operations.