1199 SEIU STATEMENT ON THE CLOSING OF NORTH GENERAL HOSPITAL

“We are extremely saddened and disappointed with the impending closure of North General Hospital.  On the heels of St. Vincent’s hospital, the closure of yet another acute care facility 2 months later is the regrettable result of continued and repeated cuts to healthcare funding.  In the June 7th budget extender bill, another $775 million in healthcare cuts was enacted, making it the 8th round of cuts to vital healthcare funding since 2007.

1199 SEIU represents 900 workers at North General Hospital who now currently face the threat of immediate layoffs.  They are all highly skilled caregivers and service workers, many of whom live in the community and have been providing care to Harlem residents for over 30 years. 

While we are encouraged that healthcare services will continue at North General, we remain concerned about the future of the hospital’s 900 workers who have provided high quality care to the patients they have served so well over the years.  They deserve and should be afforded the opportunity to continue to serve the Harlem community.

Unfortunately, the new operator of the North General clinics, the Institute for Family Health, has informed the union that they will not accept all of 1199’s members for employment which is in direct violation of federal labor law.  As a result, the union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board and will engage in an unfair labor practice strike. 

We will continue to fight to preserve as many jobs as possible for our members at North General and we will work to ensure the hospital meets every obligation due to our members as bankruptcy proceedings move forward.

We hope the community will stand in support of our dedicated workers in their struggle to maintain quality healthcare and continue serving Harlem’s residents.”

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With 350,000 members in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington D.C., 1199 SEIU is the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the country. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.