Unions flood the block to protest plan to close SUNY Downstate Hospital
Source: Labor Press
March 1, 2024 Max Parrott LaborPress
Over 1,200 of hospital workers and community members joined union members and elected officials on a cold Thursday to continue the fight against a plan to reduce or potentially close the existing SUNY Downstate’s University Hospital in East Flatbush and relocate its services elsewhere.
Though the protest centered local concerns over healthcare access in Central Brooklyn, it has attracted the attention of national figures like Rev. Al Sharpton and AFT President Randi Weingarten.
“Downstate has been one of the few. Now they want to blame the lack of funding on the folks that made little do much,” Sharpton said. “Whatever needs to be done from the state to the federal level needs to be done. But we’ll not tolerate you shutting down Downstate.”
The rally was led by the United University Professions (UUP), the union representing faculty and staff of the SUNY system, which sharply criticized Gov. Hochul’s plan to “transform” the state-run medical hospital. The governor’s plan will likely include the relocation of patient care services to surrounding hospitals, as well as health care worker layoffs.
Rev. Al Sharpton
Read more: https://www.laborpress.org/unions-flood-the-block-to-protest-plan-to-close-suny-downstate-hospital/
