Over five-hundred union members of the Health care Workers Union 1199 converged on the Gun Hill Road entrance of Montefiore Hospital to protest proposed cuts of up to One Billion Dollars by Governor Andrew Cuomo to New York's Health care providers. The sign above says that Montefiore Hospital alone would see a cut of thirty million dollars.
The proposed cuts would effect all areas of health care. Struggling hospitals of which twenty-six are on a funding crisis watch list might have to cut community services to Medicaid and other vulnerable populations, or possibly some close entirely. The cuts would hurt already struggling Nursing Homes. Health care workers who care for seniors and the disabled who already are struggling to make ends meet would have to take cuts in reimbursements. It would be a no win situation according to members of 1199 the Health care Workers Union.
As the demonstration went on during the lunch hour of the union members there were chants of"They Say Cutbacks, We Say Fight Back". Union Leaders, Bronx Borough President Ruben diaz Jr., City Councilman Andy King, and Montefiore President and CEO Steven Safyer MD. all called for no cuts to an already struggling health care system in New York State. The message was to let your State Assembly and State Senators know that you are opposed to any cuts in the upcoming budget to health care.
Above - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Councilman Andy King were right in the middle of the over five-hundred protestors on Gun Hill Road in front of Montefiore Hospital calling for no cuts to health care from Albany as is in the proposed budget.
Below - Dr. Steven Safyer President and CEO of Montefiore Hospital outlines what might have to happen if the current proposed cuts to health care were not averted.
