District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Robert's Statement on HHC announced Service, Workforce Reductions

"We are very concerned about the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation's announced plan for service and workforce reductions.

"HHC employees, a large number of whom are represented by District Council 37, are devoted and dedicated workers caring for over 1.3 million New Yorkers. Many patients are uninsured - some 450,000 and growing.

"HHC's announced plan to close 4 school-based mental health programs, 4 community clinics, 3 satellite pharmacies, 2 hospital-based case management programs, 2 mental health day treatment programs, and a hospital-based therapy program for TB patients, hurts this city's neediest and most vulnerable populations.

"HHC President Alan D. Aviles pointed out that these proposed cuts destroy our vital health care services. What's more, these service and workforce reductions are not in keeping with the spirit of the $10 billion that New York State has received from President Obama's stimulus package for the Medicaid program and the health care safety net.

"If there is one thing that should be obvious in this economic climate it is that layoffs are not a solution but only compound the problems we're facing.

"District Council 37 will address this issue aggressively. We are talking to the State to make sure that the federal stimulus moneys are used for the purpose for which they are intended. We are also doing everything in our power to ensure that our members and the millions of New Yorkers they serve are protected."

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