UUP Press Releases
CONTACT: Denyce Duncan Lacy or Don Feldstein at (518) 640-6600
Lacy’s cell number is (518) 265-3114
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 15, 2007
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UUP begins multi-media campaign to save SUNY hospital
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The nation’s largest higher education union has begun a media campaign designed to save Upstate Medical University Hospital, the State University of New York hospital in Syracuse, from privatization. The union’s action comes as a result of the Berger Commission report that requires that Upstate merge with neighboring Crouse Hospital and operate as a private entity.
“Privatizing the largest hospital in central New York that serves hundreds of thousands across a wide area would have catastrophic consequences, seriously undermining health care and the economy of the region,” said William E. Scheuerman, president of United University Professions.
A 30-second television commercial UUP is running in Albany and central New York urges Gov. Spitzer to do the right thing and keep Upstate within SUNY to preserve its vital health mission.
“The state wants to take University Hospital in Syracuse out of SUNY,” the ad states. “That would jeopardize your health care. You could lose the regional trauma center, the stroke center, the Clark Burn Center…New York could lose affordable medical education…University Hospital is also the area’s largest employer.”
“The bottom line would take priority over the delivery of costly critical care services if Upstate were privatized,” Scheuerman warned. “We can’t afford to have the state pull the plug on Upstate.”
UUP is also using the Internet to spread its message. A streaming video is being produced that dramatically portrays the negative effects of Upstate going private. The video will include a parent whose child received life-saving treatment at one of its clinics. The video will be distributed via e-mail to members of UUP, New York State United Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO. The e-mail will have a link to fax a letter to Gov. Spitzer, urging him to take a detailed look at the implications of the changes called for by the Berger Commission as they relate to Upstate.
UUP represents more then 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York state-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of New York State United Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and AFL-CIO.