NewYork-Presbyterian Nurses Fight Back Against NYP Cuts
While NYSNA nurses and healthcare workers are fighting egregious attacks on Medicaid by the federal government, we are also fighting employers who are taking advantage of this critical moment to put profits over patients.
On May 5, NewYork- Presbyterian (NYP) Health System announced 2% cuts layoffs across the board, which could mean more than 1,000 healthcare workers will lose their jobs. NYSNA leaders throughout the NYP system decried the planned layoffs saying, “If NYP truly needs to cut expenses, they should look at the compensation of the dozens of millionaires on their payroll or in areas that will not reduce the staff and services that our patients rely on.” NYSNA nurses mobilized and spoke out at two Community Board meetings calling on board members and community members to support healthcare workers’ fight to take action to stop the cuts and support safe, quality care! After the meeting, over 150 people emailed letters to NYP CEO Steve Corwin and the board of trustees.
Nurses and healthcare workers kept up the momentum to push back against these layofs. On June 11, NYSNA joined 1199SEIU and Communications Workers of America Local 1104 nurses and healthcare workers to rally and speak-out outside NYP-Columbia in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Nearly 200 frontline union healthcare workers at four NYP locations will be impacted by the staffing cuts, including 65 NYSNA members. At the Columbia campus, healthcare services for children and terminally ill patients will be closed. Pediatric nurse practitioners and palliative care nurses who were notified that NYP was laying them off gave powerful testimony about the impact this loss of staff and services will have on their patients, their colleagues and the community. News outlets such as LoHud and The Chief Leader have covered the cuts announcement and featured nurses speaking out.
Union healthcare workers also expressed their deep frustration that, as healthcare workers are fighting the federal government’s egregious attacks on Medicaid, they must fight their employer — one of the wealthiest healthcare systems in New York City — for taking advantage of this critical moment to put profits over patients.
NYSNA nurses are demanding financial transparency, a reversal of the cuts to frontline staff, and guaranteed placement of displaced nurses in the NYP hospital system!
Show your support for NYP nurses and healthcare workers! Send a letter NYP CEO Steve Corwin and the board of trustees to stop cuts to patient care!