Health care workers at North Shore University Hospital at Syosset belonging to Labor Union 1115, working without a contract since December 31, 1997 have threatened to enact a one-day strike at the hospital on July 1, potentially impacting the clerical and technical operation of the facility, unless, say labor officials, hospital management offers more job security and better wages, and reneges on its demands for certain givebacks.

Hundreds of union members, among them nurses aides, ward clerks, medical records clerks, housekeepers, dietary workers, engineers, communication employees and admittance workers, according to plan, would cease work at 6 a.m. and only recommence working 24 hours later, 6 a.m., on July 2.

Last June 10, many of these same workers picketed in front of the hospital during a three and a half hour protest, but in shifts, only during their spare time. This second affront would be far more drastic. Nevertheless, said Carol Hauptman, vice president of community relations for the NSLIJ Health System, the hospital is sufficiently prepared for such action, and no patient should worry about a lack of staffing.

"We feel that we can absolutely provide careful, quality service and care, as we always do," said Hauptman. She added that the hospital would be "perfectly capable" of providing enough staff, and would "have sufficient back-up personnel" to replace any technicians or engineers who may be needed to repair equipment.

Hauptman would not discuss the issues surrounding negotiations between the NSLIJ Health Care System and the 1115, claiming it was "most inappropriate to discuss details on the table in negotiations."

McCarthy, on the other hand, says it's inappropriate that while workers had hopes of improving their status with a new contract, they now are struggling simply to retain what they have always had.

McCarthy said that hospital management wishes to eliminate tuition for part-time workers, daily overtime (time-and-a-half pay), and a successor clause which stipulates that the hospital cannot transfer employees without approval.

In addition to defending those three items, employees are also seeking a no lay-off clause, as well as better wages.

McCarthy said that the hospital has offered a $500 bonus to employees for the first year of the new contract, and a 1 3/4% raise in the second year. She called the offer "ridiculous." McCarthy would not specify how much she was seeking, but said a fair offer would be something along the lines of what workers from union 1199 received when they recently settled a contract with the League of Voluntary Hospitals. That agreement established contracts at 35 different hospitals, including several other North Shore hospitals.

It is expected that 1199 representatives, as well as members of related union 144 will support 1155 at the possible strike.

McCarthy said job security has been a major concern for hospital employees, especially since North Shore took over the hospital. She said that North Shore management would close units in the hospital, such as maternity, without properly informing the workers. Such closings reduced the number of employees needed at the hospital, and threatened jobs, she explained.

Hauptman explained that the closings were part of a major change within the hospital. "Syosset Hospital is an entirely different hospital than it used to be," she said. She called the hospital "primarily an ambulatory institution" now, with several very specialized centers of medicine.

The status of negotiations is unclear. Hauptman indicated they were still underway, while McCarthy implied that North Shore is delaying the process.