District Council 37 and municipal unions lobby Albany Monday, Nov. 16
against 2009-2010 deficit reduction plan

Plan could cost HHC more than $63 million and cut NYC Dept. of Education by $223 million


On Monday, November 16, hundreds of members of District Council 37, the city's largest public employee union, and other city unions will travel by bus to Albany to say "NO!" to Governor David Paterson's 2009-2010 Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP). Beginning with an 11 a.m. meeting with members of the State Senate and Assembly Education and Health Committees followed by a 1:30 pm news conference, they will take part in an afternoon of advocacy and lobbying at the state capital urging legislators not to cut funding for health care, education and other vital safety net services.

The governor's proposed draconian cuts would eliminate more than $63 million in resources to Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) hospitals and facilities, including a $38 million share of federal funds, threatening vital patient services including community clinics.

The governor's plan would also take $223 million from the New York City Department of Education, where more than 600 vital District Council 37 members - including school aides and others who assist public school children and their families - have already been laid off.

"Our public hospitals and facilities, along with our public schools - where members of District Council 37 and other municipal unions work - are vital to the quality of life in New York City," said Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of DC 37. "HHC Public hospitals and facilities are essential for so many patients-children, the elderly, the disabled, the uninsured-as well as their families and their communities. Public schools are our future because they educate our city's children. That is why we are urging New York State legislators to oppose these cutbacks and refuse to enact these budget reductions."

The unions in the Municipal Labor Committee's HHC Subcommittee represent nearly 30,000 public health care workers in HHC, including 14,000 District Council 37 members. District Council 37 also represents 30,000 workers in NYC Board of Education Local 372 and other locals in New York City public schools.

District Council 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, with 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees.