Public Employee Press

Local 420, HHC meet on health care's future

A labor management initiative organized by Hospital Employees Local 420 brought to the table a diverse group of leaders from labor and the Health and Hospitals Corporation June 6 to discuss the challenges ahead and policies affecting health care funding.

"The number one goal was to build on and strengthen our relationship with HHC," said Local 420 President Carmen Charles. "For too long we were reacting to decisions HHC made without our input. We felt that we were not at the table. Going forward we are moving toward better communication between labor and management. We must collaborate on how to address the many changes taking place in health care and how we can better work together. The conversation starts here."

The daylong event took place at the Cornell University's midtown Manhattan Conference Center and featured guest speakers, panel discussions and working groups. They targeted the sweeping changes HHC is undergoing as new policies are rolled out and threats that may cut funding draw near.

Some 75 people were at the conference that featured Charles and HHC President Dr. Ram Raju, as well as a cadre of labor leaders whose members are the public healthcare workforce. Kevin Collins of the Doctors Council; Bruce Richard of SEIU Local 1199; Anne Bové, president of the New York State Nurses Association, and DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido attended as did executives from HHC, the Office of Labor Relations, Local 420's board members and staff.

HHC faces many challenges including Medicare redesign and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, which does not address the cost of caring for undocumented patients. New York City's HHC facilities are a safety net for the city's elderly, poor, and over 1 million undocumented residents.

Charles said her chief concerns are proposed cuts of more than $825 million to Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funds as well as looming threats to privatize hospital services. HHC employs 11,000 Local 420 members who provide vital care at clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. "We are in this together," said Charles, "and what affects the needs of HHC, affects the patients as well as the unionized workforce who care for them."

"My board members and I left feeling a greater sense of respect and that our concerns are heard and understood," Charles said. "We feel empowered."

— Diane S. Williams