Public Employee Press

HHC workers mobilize against cuts

With Gov. David Paterson planning major cuts in healthcare and education to address the state’s massive $7.4 billion budget deficit, DC 37 went on the offensive and launched a grassroots campaign to protect services and jobs at the Health and Hospitals Corp.

Union members at the city’s public hospitals care for 1.3 million New Yorkers every year, but the governor is seeking $1 billion in Medicaid and health-care savings, including cuts to providers. HHC’s primary patient population is low income and uninsured; under its charter, HHC cannot turn anyone away.

The fight-back campaign began in December when the union organized meetings that brought together state legislators, union activists and staff from DC 37’s Political Action Dept. The union groups urged the legislators not to cut any more funds from HHC’s budget.

According to President Alan Aviles, HHC’s budget gap could grow to $1 billion this year. In 2009, the union worked with HHC as it struggled to close a $316 million budget deficit.

The DC 37 activists targeted legislators and urged the elected officials to join the fight in support of HHC, kicking off the drive in the Bronx Dec. 10 with a session involving Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera. Subsequent meetings included state Sen. Frank Padavan and Assembly member Rory Lancman in Queens and Senate Majority Leader John Sampson in Brooklyn.

In addition to the meetings with elected officials, activists initiated a petition campaign where they collected thousands of signatures at various hospitals throughout the city.

“We are continuing our advocacy to prevent destructive cuts to HHC’s budget in 2010 with a series of in-district meetings with state legislators,” said DC 37 Director of Field Operations Barbara Ingram Edmonds.