More than 2,000 prison workers participating in an unsanctioned strike have been fired, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced on Monday.

DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello declared the strike over and said that the state is moving forward with the 5,000 workers that have returned, which will continue to be supplemented by National Guard troops.

“After 22 days of an illegal strike, the governor and I are happy to report that it is now ended,” he said.

The prison system has 10,000 security staff available to work in its prisons, according to Martuscello. That is down from the 13,500 employees it had before the strike started.

The state had set a deadline of Monday for workers to return to their shifts. They said 85% of employees needed to return in order to enact a new agreement.

Even though that threshold was not met, Commissioner Martuscello said he and the governor are going to honor the terms of the March 6 memorandum. That included a 90-day suspension of certain provisions of the HALT Act, which restricted how much time inmates can spend in solitary confinement. A committee to review the act will also be established.

They also will continue the overtime rate of 2 ½ times salary and continue the 12-hour shifts to reduce the instances of employees working a 24-hour shift.

“I’m still committing to providing some of the critical changes and benefits to my employees,” he said.

The prison system is also going to implement enhanced screening for contraband.

The department is also going to launch a “high-energy recruitment campaign.”

“I want you to know that I heard you. Your safety, your family, your work-life balance are important to me, and I’m committed to continuing to listen to your voices as we move forward,” he said.

Martuscello also praised the workers that stayed on the job.

“I want to thank the staff that worked hard every day of this strike,” he said.