April 20, 2020 | 7: 35 pm
New york city’s biggest medical facility system is providing 45,0000 of its “heroic” workers swelling amount $2,500 rewards and a paid week off for fighting the coronavirus epidemic, it announced Monday– as Gov. Andrew Cuomo prompted the feds to offer “threat pay” to other front-line employees.
” Our dedicated staff’s action to the COVID-19 pandemic has actually been nothing except brave. Thanks to the courage and commitment of our front-line caregivers, we responded to the call-in service to the patients and neighborhoods who entrust us with their care,” stated Northwell Health president and CEO Michael Dowling.
Northwell’s network of health centers consist of Lenox Hill on the Upper East Side, LIJ in Forest Hills and New Hyde Park, and the Staten Island University medical centers, among others in the suburbs.
Mitchell Katz, the CEO of the city’s network of 11 public health centers, likewise stated last week he wishes to provide reward pay to his front-line employees.
New York Presbyterian and Mt. Sinai medical facility systems have actually likewise used perks to their direct care employees.
On The Other Hand, Cuomo on Monday proposed that federal funds be utilized to reward front-line employees– consisting of transit workers, developing cleaners, day care workers in addition to medical employees.
The state is broke, so the governor is depending on President Trump and Congress to spend the dough to reward workers risking their health and lives to serve and save others.
” Pay them what they are worthy of. I ‘d state threat pay. Provide a 50 percent reward and I would do that now,” Cuomo said throughout an Albany press briefing Monday.
” Our front-line workers are heroes. They are bring us through this crisis,” he said.
The head of the union representing the city’s paramedics and Emergency medical technicians– the emergency situation responders who often are the very first to treat COVID-19 patients and transfer them to the health center– invited Cuomo’s call.
The starting spend for entry-level emergency management technicians is $16 an hour– a dollar more than the base pay, stated Oren Barzilay, president of Local 2507.
” It’s hard to endure on $16 an hour,” Barzilay stated.
” That would be terrific,” Barzilay said the danger pay proposal. “We’ll see.”
It’s long been a sore point that EMTs and paramedics earn less than firemens. All are used by the FDNY.
Other state legislators are also pushing for threat pay for front-line workers.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) sent out a letter to the New York congressional delegation prompting support for risk pay in the next federal COVID relief plan– and suggesting it be reached any gig or freelance workers, including delivery workers, self-employed reporters and chauffeurs.
Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Brooklyn) and Assembly Member Aravella Simotas (D-Queens) also sent out a letter to the guv and legislative leaders last week requesting that federal stimulus funds be allocated for front-line workers.
