NUMC seeks to hire nonunion workers

Nassau University Medical Center, the county's only publicly funded hospital, is planning to create a nonprofit subsidiary that would allow it to hire nonunion employees.

But the union representing NUMC employees said it will challenge the move, claiming it undermines the mission of the public hospital.

The East Meadow hospital hopes to establish a nonprofit entity known as NuHealth Services Corp., which would co-run the facility, according to documents submitted to the state Health Department.

NuHealth Services Corp. would run existing health programs and facilities with the existing public benefit corporation, the Nassau Health Care Corp.

The plan must be approved by the state Health Department's Public Health and Health Planning Council.

The new entity would allow the hospital, which is facing a projected $50 million budget gap, to hire private-sector, nonunion employees. The Civil Service Employees Association represents 3,400 employees at the hospital, the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and several outlying clinics.

Nassau Health Care Corp. president and chief executive Arthur Gianelli said the plan would provide the hospital with flexibility.

The new entity would have the same board as the public benefit corporation and would have the option to hire new nonunion employees, Gianelli said. "The union can represent such employees, assuming it follows the proper process to do so," Gianelli added.

CSEA president Jerry Laricchiuta accused Gianelli of trying to bust the union.

"We will fight to the death on this one," Laricchiuta said Wednesday at the hospital's board of directors meeting. He contends that Gianelli attempted to "sneak" the change past the union.

Employees hired by the proposed nonprofit would not receive the same contractual health care and pension benefits afforded to hospital CSEA employees, Laricchiuta said.

Although the proposal does not require county approval, the state Health Department has asked Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano for a "no objection" letter, hospital officials said.

On Tuesday, County Attorney John Ciampoli wrote to Ronald Stack, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which controls the county's finances, seeking its input. Stack declined to comment Wednesday.

The proposal would "allow NUMC to remain viable despite its mandate to provide health care to the indigent," Ciampoli wrote.

In a letter to Gianelli Wednesday, Ciampoli said the county will await NIFA's comments before offering its opinion.

Legislative officials have pledged to investigate the proposal.

"At a minimum I would expect the Health Committee to hold a hearing on NUMC's intent to operate the hospital as a nonprofit," said Dave Gugerty, chief of staff to the Democratic minority.

With Sid Cassese