By MIKE CAPUTO
In 1999, the county turned the operation of NUMC and the A. Holly Paterson Center, a geriatric facility in Uniondale, over to the NHCC, a public-benefit corporation.
Facing financial challenges brought on by decreases in government aid, NHCC officials have discussed laying off about 350 workers next year. The current union contract prohibits layoffs, but it expires at the end of the year. Some 3,400 CSEA members are employed by the NHCC.
Laricchiuta foresees more financial strife for NHCC in the future. "Today it is OK, all right, but by the end of 2010 it may not be all right," he said to about 200 union members outside the hospital on May 13. "It was a mistake in 1999 to make it a public-benefit corporation. Let's undo the mistake."
Laricchiuta suggested the creation of a new special taxing districts for the hospital as another option. He explained that he realizes residents would probably not want new taxes, but noted that it could be a low-cost alternative to a county takeover. "There needs to be additional funding, whether it be the county taking back total control of the facility or a special taxing district for NUMC," Laricchiuta said. "We are open to discussing any options."
Following the union press conference, NHCC's president and CEO, Arthur Gianelli, responded by blaming the union for being reluctant to negotiate and make concessions. The two sides have met only once to lay out ground rules for contract negotiations, officials said, and are not scheduled to meet again until June.
"The CSEA is the one asking for the handout, as they do not want to give up any concessions," Gianelli said. "Everyone needs to calm down and meet at the negotiating table. CSEA should negotiate with management and let NHCC focus on quality issues. The union should help NHCC achieve a vision for the 21st century. Instead, the union is still stuck on a vision from the '70s.
"Our goal is not to be a burden to the taxpayers of Nassau County, but rather an asset," Gianelli added. "In times of economic difficulties, unlike the CSEA, the NHCC has not asked Nassau's taxpayers for a handout."
Laricchiuta also accused the corporation of overpaying executives and hiring too many administrators and consultants. "We need to get the hospital under control," he said. "It is appalling to pay nearly $4 million for vice presidents' salaries, while asking our members to suffer."
Gianelli said the NHCC has the same number of executive staff members as the Westchester Medical Center, a similar public benefit corporation. The size of the executive staff has not changed since Gianelli arrived in 2006, hospital officials said.
Gianelli noted that 97 percent of funds appropriated for salaries are for union members. With their yearly salary increases included in the current contract, crafting a new agreement would be harder to fulfill as time goes on. "The reality is that NHCC cannot spend more on salaries than what it brings in as revenues," Gianelli said. He has insisted that he will discuss negotiations only with union officials, and not through the media.
The creation of new special taxing districts and additional expenses do not appear to be on the wish list for financially strapped Nassau County. "The county sold the hospital years ago and currently does not have any plan to buy it back or take over," said Jennifer Kim, a spokeswoman for County Executive Tom Suozzi. "The county executive has advocated the consolidation of special districts and is not in favor of establishing a new one."
Jail health care workers look for answers
NHCC has been in discussions with the county about soliciting bids for the contract it has with the county to provide health services to inmates at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow.
The county, which runs the jail, and the NHCC are exploring whether the county can save money by using outside vendors for the jail, officials said. According to the NHCC, it barely breaks even on the contract with the county.
Privatization could lead to the elimination of about 128 union health care jobs at the jail.
Calvin Walker, a licensed practical nurse at the facility, said that he and his colleagues tend to be overlooked and underinformed by both the NHCC and the union. "I feel we have no representation," said Walker, a Roosevelt resident. "It is unfair for us to be treated the way we are treated."
The health professionals at the jail provide an array of in-house services to inmates, including mental health services. "For the most part we do everything they do over here at the hospital," Walker said by the steps of the NUMC.
Shift changes anger nurses
A $9 million budget gap brought on by a decrease in state funds earlier this year doubled an existing $9 million deficit in the NHCC's operating budget. To close the gap, it implemented a series of cost-cutting moves, including a change in nursing shifts from three 12-hour days to five eight-hour days. The new schedule, effective June 7, coupled with the fears of possible future layoffs, has drawn the ire of many nurses.
"We are the seasoned nurses here who have come forward for everything - we've been here for overtime, we've been here to stay late," said Mari Madonna, a nurse and a West Hempstead resident. "We're the front lines. We're the ones who are dedicated employees and they are hurting us."
After the union's news conference, nurses talked about how they are scrambling to make adjustments at home. Many are faced with making new child-care arrangements to fit their ever-changing schedules, which almost always include weekends.
"They're not only changing the tours to eight hours," said Doreen Hasemann, a nurse from Lindenhurst, "but they're disrupting our entire lives."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
