X

Union members demonstrate at Massena Town Hall to protest plan for hospital they say might jeopardize members' jobs, pensions

Posted 12/17/15

Massena Memorial Hospital CSEA members, from left, Betty Kelly, Clyde Leffler, Sue Mackey and Shaylyn Frederick. NorthCountryNow photo by Andy Gardner. By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- For an hour before …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Union members demonstrate at Massena Town Hall to protest plan for hospital they say might jeopardize members' jobs, pensions

Posted

Massena Memorial Hospital CSEA members, from left, Betty Kelly, Clyde Leffler, Sue Mackey and Shaylyn Frederick. NorthCountryNow photo by Andy Gardner.

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- For an hour before the vote to allow Massena Memorial Hospital to privatize, about 30 members of CSEA, New York State United Teachers and United Steelworkers Local 420-A stood in front of the Town Hall advocating for the decision to be left to a referendum.

However, the demonstration didn’t thrill everybody.

Linda Smith, an MMH registered nurse and member of the New York State Nurses Association union, said she protested because she thinks MMH will not serve the community as well as a non-profit.

“If we go private, it’s just going to be another business. The town will have no say,” she said during the rally.

The protest seemed to be well-received by passing motorists. Many of them honked their horns in support, with the crowd cheering and waving their signs in response.

Chris Felix, a USW Local 420-A trustee, said Alcoa union members showed up to support a similar organization they feel is in need.

“It’s about supporting a brother union and supporting the community,” he said. “I don’t agree with it (MMH privatization) at all.”

“We support the public having a right to vote,” said Kerrie French, the president of MMH’s CSEA chapter. “We don’t want anymore lies and we don’t want to privatize.”

The ralliers then chanted “no more lies, don’t privatize” mere feet from Town Supervisor Joseph Gray’s office, who could be seen at his desk through a window. The group then started singing “people over profit, that’s what we want.”

None of those who spoke during public comment brought up the idea of a referendum.

During the meeting, Gray expressed his disdain with the protester’s slogans.

“I resent people over profit. That is an insult to everyone on this board. I resent no more lies, there have been no lies,” he said.

Joe Macaulay, a Massena resident, said the Massena Central School District has cut dozens of teacher positions over the last several years with little or no public resistance.

“Our school board over the last three years have cut 75 jobs to keep taxes down. Where was the outpouring of support for those people?” he said.

There were several members of the Massena Central community in attendance, including guidance counselor Erin Covell and Board of Education Trustee Loren Fountain.