FMC, a global company based in Bad Homburg, Germany, reported operating profits from dialysis in the U.S. alone of $1.6 billion in 2014. FMC is seeking to cut benefits of dialysis nurses and healthcare workers in its negotiations in a number of its NYC-area operations. Dialysis patients, who suffer from End Stage Renal Disease, are among the most vulnerable in the patient population. Quality care for these patients is linked to a committed workforce. The two unions have urged FMC to invest in safe, quality care through fair contracts for the nurses and healthcare workers.
“Fresenius needs to step up and do the right thing,” said Teresa Schloth, RN, a Fresenius nurse in Brooklyn. “We work hard to deliver quality care to our patients. These proposed cuts to our benefits are an insult to us, our patients and the community we serve.” Also in Brooklyn, Fresenius RN Elenita Ambat said, “Fresenius needs to be fair to its staff. They want us to move backwards and take big cuts to our healthcare benefits, pensions and personal time off, but we deserve more.”
“We are taking a stand against corporate greed,” said Kelvin Peña, equipment technician at Nephrocare Inc., a Fresenius holding. “Fresenius wants to squeeze profits out of its employees by switching us to a more expensive health plan with inferior coverage. Fresenius is a multi-billion dollar global company with more than enough resources to make sure its staff has the coverage to remain healthy. We can’t allow companies like Fresenius to short-change workers locally to make profits globally.”
