A wildcat strike by New York state prison guards stretched into a third week Monday, prompting officials to start firing workers for failing to abide by a deal to end the illegal labor action. The state's homeland security commissioner,

Corrections officers received notices Saturday warning that strikers would have their health insurance coverage cancelled for them and their families effective Monday. State officials said they had done what they legally could by issuing a tentative prison strike deal before resorting to terminations and civil contempt charges.