The powerful union representing workers at the city’s private hospitals has taken on a new fight: preserving free health care for its own members.
The three-year “master contract” between leading hospitals such as NYU-Langone Medical Center and 1199SEIU, which covers 110,000 nurses and healthcare workers, is set to expire July 15.
Under the current contract, all union members receive comprehensive health coverage for free, with no co-payments and no premium contributions. But the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes of New York — an employer group representing 109 hospitals, nursing homes and clinics — says it contributes more than $900 million annually to the benefit fund for workers and wants to restructure the benefits to pare that cost.
Under one proposal it has put on the table, 55,000 low-wage workers at nursing homes and long-term care facilities would have to cover some of their health care costs out of pocket, union leaders calculate.
They agreed to reconsider that proposal after the union revolted, but were adamant the current system needs to change.
“This is the biggest crisis facing 1199 members in 25 years,” said union president George Gresham. The union on Monday plans to launch a major media blitz to protest the potential contract changes. On Wednesday, healthcare workers will form picket lines around the city’s major hospitals.
Healthcare workers living paycheck to paycheck said they depend on the benefit fund to make ends meet.
“My son had 85% curvature of his spine when he was born,” said Shirley Young, a certified nursing assistant at Isabella Geriatric Center in Washington Heights.
“Surgery cost $60,000. I only make $32,000 a year. I wouldn’t be anywhere close to paying for that.”
They also object to paying out of pocket to treat ailments they pick up at work.
Jose Lugo, 36, a housekeeper at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, said he was stuck with a needle while disposing of the trash.
To guard against HIV and hepatitis, he had to take medication for a week.
“Imagine me having to pay for that kind of medication,” he said.
The League said it is willing to negotiate — but contends the union isn’t playing ball.
“We’re trying to bargain a sensible approach to health benefits in the future,” said League president Bruce McIver. “We’ve had a hard time getting them to the bargaining table.”
Gresham vowed he was prepared to spend “whatever it takes” on the media and picketing effort.
“We are giving this priority,” he said, noting that CEO compensation at the top five health systems in the city has quadrupled since 2004.
The union is also seeking wage increases for its workers and a promise that all healthcare jobs should be filled by union positions.
