SUNY’s plans to lay off 500 LICH employees halted, for now
LICH supporters planned to serve papers on SUNY board members
SUNY Downstate’s plan to lay off 500 employees of Long Island College Hospital (LICH) came to a halt on Monday afternoon, just hours after LICH supporters including Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and 1199 Healthcare Workers vowed to seek an injunction in court — and go after individual SUNY board members.
“NYSNA has taken this matter to arbitration and we are abiding by the process,” said SUNY spokesperson Bob Bellafiore.
In a statement NYSNA said, “SUNY and Staffco have agreed that the major layoffs scheduled at LICH tomorrow will not take place. At minimum the layoffs are delayed for several weeks.” A spokesperson for NYSNA did not confirm that the group had taken the matter to arbitration.