UTICA, N.Y. -- Roughly 80 nurses with MVHS got layoff notices via certified mail today. Those who choose not to use seniority to bump another employee will be laid off effective May 4 -- this coming Monday. For others, there is a bumping process.
MVHS is furloughing 20% of their workforce, in order to offset multi-million-dollar loses from the coronavirus, but the New York State Nurses Association, which represents the RNs at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, rejected MVHS' furlough proposal, saying that members would lose benefits if they went that route. Furloughed nurses remain employees of MVHS and retain health insurance.
MVHS hopes to resume elective outpatient procedures toward the end of next week, and hopes that will enable them to call back laid-off nurses, but they caution the resumption of the procedures will be a slow and deliberate process.
