ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Dozens of healthcare workers from Rochester are making their way to Albany to rally against federal cuts to healthcare services. They’re joining thousands from across New York calling for state action.
The workers, representing a variety of specialties including registered nurses and CNAs, are concerned about the potential impact of the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. They fear facilities and services may shut down without necessary funding.
The rally marks the start of a campaign by 1199SEIU to propose solutions to protect patients and healthcare facilities in New York, calling it a “code red”. “Letting folks know that we are in a very, tough time right now, that if something isn’t done, that we’re going to see devastation across health care” 1199 Vice President Tracey Harrison said.
“We are anticipating that there’s going to be over 17 million individuals where health care will be taken away from them. That’s 1.5 here in New York State,” Harrison said. “When we look at it from a dollar amount, we’re looking at over $13.5 million. That’s going to be robbed from New York State and its hospital.”
The official rally starts at 11:30 a.m. Monday, featuring speeches from key state leaders, including State Senate President Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Speaker of the House Carl Heastie. At 1 p.m., frontline caregivers, clad in “Code Red” gear, will march around the State Capitol to emphasize the urgency of their cause.
The union’s biggest concern is that without funding, there will be a ripple effect leading to subpar patient care and tighter staffing. “We have a lot of individuals, not just here in New York State, but all over the country who are now facing increased premiums,” said Elizbeth Davila, SEIU administrative organizer. “The impact that that’s going to have on us is people can lose their health care and make really difficult decisions, like purchasing food, or you know, going to the doctor,” Davila said.
Davila said she’s participated in similar rallies before and believed the state will be receptive.
The rally comes as lawmakers recently passed health care subsidies in the House, which are now being debated in the Senate. President Donald Trump has threatened to veto the bill if it passes.
1199SEIU is Rochester’s local healthcare union, with members in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and Washington, D.C..
The post ‘Code red’ declared by local healthcare workers over federal funding cuts appeared first on WHEC.com.
