1199SEIU members at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, NY held an informational picket June 26 as part of their effort to keep departments and services at their institution, and ensure adequate staffing so they can keep providing quality care to their community, which is barely back on its feet after last year’s Hurricane Sandy.
St. John’s is currently being managed by the Pitts Management Group, Louisiana-based consultants that took over the hospital’s administration two years ago. Pitts has outsourced the institution’s detox, dialysis and ambulatory care services. According to workers, pediatric and OBGYN are also slated to be contracted to outside providers.
“The problem with these companies is that they have no loyalty to our communities. They only have loyalty to their company,” said pharmacy technician Tyrone Johnson, a Far Rockaway resident who has worked at St. John’s Episcopal for 24 years. “They come into our neighborhoods, suck out every dime and then go back to where they came from.”
Workers marched and loudly chanted – some aided by megaphones – “Hey Hey! Ho Ho! Pitts Management Has Got To Go!” They carried signs demanding quality healthcare for the Rockaways. At a rally near the hospital’s main entrance, several workers spoke. Among them was Trina Thomas, a Delegate and clerical worker at St. John’s for 22 years. Thomas impressed upon her co-workers the importance of solidarity in the fight for their hospital.
“They are trying to divide us. They target one or two people to make other people afraid. I’m very proud of my co-workers who came out here today,” said Thomas. “St. John’s is the only hospital we have left in the Rockaways and they are dismantling us piece by piece. We must stick together. United we stand.”
St. John’s is currently being managed by the Pitts Management Group, Louisiana-based consultants that took over the hospital’s administration two years ago. Pitts has outsourced the institution’s detox, dialysis and ambulatory care services. According to workers, pediatric and OBGYN are also slated to be contracted to outside providers.
“The problem with these companies is that they have no loyalty to our communities. They only have loyalty to their company,” said pharmacy technician Tyrone Johnson, a Far Rockaway resident who has worked at St. John’s Episcopal for 24 years. “They come into our neighborhoods, suck out every dime and then go back to where they came from.”
Workers marched and loudly chanted – some aided by megaphones – “Hey Hey! Ho Ho! Pitts Management Has Got To Go!” They carried signs demanding quality healthcare for the Rockaways. At a rally near the hospital’s main entrance, several workers spoke. Among them was Trina Thomas, a Delegate and clerical worker at St. John’s for 22 years. Thomas impressed upon her co-workers the importance of solidarity in the fight for their hospital.
“They are trying to divide us. They target one or two people to make other people afraid. I’m very proud of my co-workers who came out here today,” said Thomas. “St. John’s is the only hospital we have left in the Rockaways and they are dismantling us piece by piece. We must stick together. United we stand.”
