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Q&A
Discussion on expired contracts for midwives at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities
1:26:48
·
178 sec
Councilmember Sanchez raises concerns about midwives at North Central Bronx and Jacobi hospitals working under expired contracts for nearly two years, with a potential strike looming. Dr. Mitchell Katz, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, responds by explaining the situation and his efforts to resolve the contract negotiations.
- The midwives are employees of PAGNY, not directly of the city
- Dr. Katz is working with PAGNY and urging NYSNA (the nurses' union) to respond to the last offer made
- The current pay for these midwives appears low due to city midwives receiving raises while they remain on old rates
- Dr. Katz emphasizes the importance of ongoing negotiations to resolve the issue
Justin L. Brannan
1:26:48
Midwives at North Central Bronx and Jacobi have been working under an expired contract for nearly two years.
1:26:54
I believe these are NYSNA nurses.
1:26:57
I understand that these midwives are gearing up to go on strike, is we know is always a last resort.
1:27:04
Could you talk about what H and H's role is in ensuring negotiations move forward?
Mitchell Katz
1:27:09
Yeah.
1:27:10
I'm on it.
1:27:11
This is, so the particular nurse midwives who are phenomenal, NCB Jacobi has an amazing group of midwives.
1:27:23
Well known throughout the city, one of our most successful midwifery services.
1:27:28
They are employees of PAGNI, not directly of the city.
1:27:34
But now that the issue has been brought to me, I am working with PAGNI.
1:27:40
We believe that what my investigation showed is that there was an offer made by PAGNI.
1:27:51
You know negotiations are always I offer you, then you respond, and then I offer you and you respond.
1:27:58
So the last offer was by Pagni.
1:28:01
I'm gonna, you know, I want to urge NYSNA to respond.
1:28:08
Because that's how you ultimately resolve contracts.
1:28:11
You don't have to agree with the last offer that was made by the employer.
1:28:17
But part of, you know, union leader once taught me this.
1:28:21
The importance is not to disagree.
1:28:23
The importance is ultimately to agree.
1:28:25
So I hope that I can convince NAISNET to make now a counter offer to the offer that's been made.
1:28:34
They don't have to accept the offer that's made.
1:28:36
They can make a counter offer and get the negotiations back on track.
1:28:41
It's not unusual.
1:28:43
The city council helped me on the doctor issue.
1:28:46
Right?
1:28:47
Similar kind of issue.
1:28:49
And we resolved it.
1:28:51
And there was a vote to strike, we resolved it.
1:28:55
So usually the problem is people need to negotiate.
1:29:01
They need to It's not sufficient to say, you know, it isn't right.
1:29:07
Those midwives are working way below wage, But part of that is because the city midwives have gotten a raise, and they're still on two years ago's rates.
1:29:19
Once they resolve the contract, they will get back pay.
1:29:22
But it makes their current pay look particularly awful and makes it hard to keep people.
1:29:27
So it seems like my job here, as with the doctors, is you gotta negotiate to both sides.
1:29:34
It's gotta be resolved.
1:29:36
We're not gonna live without the midwives.
Justin L. Brannan
1:29:39
Thank you.
1:29:41
We've also been joined by council member Brewer, and now we go back to chair Narcisse.