After a week's deliberation union workers at the twice-bailed out St. Vincent's voted to take a ten percent pay cut while the hospital tries to revive itself. "In today’s difficult economic climate for working families, our members’ vote to accept the wage reduction is a testament to how committed they are to the work they do, their passion in providing quality care and their dedication to the patient community they serve. We salute their courageous sacrifice to keep St. Vincent’s hospital open," the union said. Still, the decrease agreed to by the union is half or less of those handed to non-union employees last week: doctors' salaries were slashed by 20 percent and executive pay rates were scaled back 25 percent.
The pay cuts at the facility—which is already accepting few new patients—are effective for 120 days while St. Vincent's tries to cope with its $700 million of debt, reports the Post. The health-care workers union, Local 1199, said it's agreed to the salary adjustments in order to "assist the hospital stave off closure and remain operational while a long-term plan is developed during this restructuring period."
