KEEPING RESEARCH ALIVE — Members from PEF Region 10 march and chant in front of the Governor’s Mansion in April to protest the merger of the New York State Psychiatric Institute with Nathan Kline. — Photo by John Epting
PEF blasts budget proposal to merge NYSPI

By DEBORAH A. MILES
A busload of PEF leaders and caregivers from the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) converged upon Albany in April to blast the state budget proposal to merge NYSPI with Nathan Kline Psychiatric Institute.
First they rallied in front of the governor’s mansion, chanting, “No cuts to patient care, stopping research isn’t fair.”

PEF President Roger Benson later told reporters at a news conference the state needs to create real revenue to restore funding at NYSPI to keep the facility operational.

“The financial pain should be shared,” Benson said. “By imposing a two-year tax surcharge on the wealthiest of New Yorkers, the state could raise nearly $3 billion. The alternative is job-killing and a loss of vital services.”
“This budget is brutal,” added PEF Region 10 Coordinator Jennifer Faucher. “The merger would result in a loss of 60 jobs and important research in the area of mental health.”

Vital research on the line
NYSPI conducts cutting-edge research on schizophrenia and bipolar illness, and is a leader in suicide prevention for children. Researchers at NYSPI were the first to show that 90 percent of New York state adolescents who committed suicide had a mental disorder at the time of their death.

“That research is paramount for all children in the state,” said Faucher. “Our message to legislators is NYSPI wants to remain alive, wants to continue research and wants to serve the communities of Inwood and Washington Heights.”

Members, patients would suffer
PEF member Raquel Ramos, a social worker who treats patients in the bipolar and schizophrenic units at NYSPI, said the targeted cut of her job would entail losing income and health insurance coverage for herself, husband and small child.

“Not only would the merger impact my personal life, it would affect the patients. There is no plan in place for them,” she said.

Beryl Lee, a nurse administrator, is also on the list with other PEF members to be laid-off. She said staffing levels were already low, but she enjoys her work and the unique environment NYSPI provides to patients. “Leaving is not an option for me,” she said. “To all those who are cutting us off at the knee caps, I say,’hear us now.’”

A research scientist at NYSPI, Susan Bernelli, said the institute receives $84 million in federal and private grants for its award winning research. NYSPI is a major site in the international Human Genome study, whose goal is to decipher the human genetic code and determine the DNA sequence of the entire human genome.

PEF leaders applauded the courage and conviction of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno for rejecting the merger proposal and other mental health cuts in their two-way budget agreement, and said they hope the governor would recognize the need to keep NYSPI and other health centers open.

COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
PEF pushes to plug corporate tax loopholes
Members fight proposal to merge NYSPI
PEF leads demonstration to protect patients, RNs
Annual lobbying pays off for PEF nurses
Union gets preliminary injunction

Departments
President's Message: PEF is major player
You Said It: Member's letters this month
Member Mobilization: Training with rallies
Nurses' Station: PEF acts to protect nurses
Legislative Update: PEF gets record restorations
Health Benefits: Empire Plan Update
Legal Issues: Members win grievance at DOL
PS&T Contract Update: Talks continuing
Member Highlights
Retirees In Action: Huge health hikes threaten
PEF Membership Benefits Program & Travel Corp

Union Matters
PEF RNs deliver quality care at Elmira PC
Full mobilization creates union power in Reg. 5
PEF wins Article 78
Members bring Benson team back for 3rd term
PEF Election Guide: Download Supplement

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