Public Employee Press

New “wellness” initiative is planned for hospital employees

Labor and management are rarely on the same page. But the high level of cooperation between the management at the Health and Hospitals Corp. and Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420 is an exception to the rule that has been productive for the employees and the agency alike.

At a Sept. 25 labor management briefing, José Sánchez, senior vice president of the Generations Plus Northern Manhattan Health Network praised Local 420 and its members for helping HHC facilities place among the top hospitals in the country.

“Our success is due to our collaboration with labor,” said Mr. Sánchez at the session at DC 37 headquarters. “Local 420 has been extremely supportive.”

Meeting with a union team led by DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Mr. Sánchez also announced the creation of a new wellness program for all staff who work at HHC facilities. Members will be offered immunization shots for their children, mammography tests for women and prostate screenings for men, all free of charge.

Ms. Roberts welcomed the new wellness initiative. “If our members are healthy, then they can do a better job of delivering services to the community,” she said of the plan.

At the meeting Mr. Sánchez said that he looked forward to working with DC 37 again as HHC prepares for the inspections and evaluations by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

The union team at the labor-management session also included DC 37 Hospitals Division Director Pat Brooks and Assistant Director Johnnie Locus, Clerical Division Assistant Director Rene Gainer, Electronic Data Processing Personnel Local 2627 President Ed Hysyk and Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 2nd Vice President Ralph Palladino.