FISHKILL, NY - Sickness, or a sickout?

Half of the employees of the Fishkill Correctional Facility called in sick Tuesday, and the state is investigating why.

About 83 of the 165 employees did not come to work. The state correction officers union says it wasn't a sickout. But the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association says there is a lot of tension.

Larry Flanagan says the 23,000-member union was awarded a raise in March but has yet to see any money. A spokeswoman for the Department of Correctional Services says the Fishkill prison went without programs and closed the law library.

Only 35 called in sick for yesterday's day shift.