Cindi Sexton (left) says “We are tired and overworked …”
POUGHKEEPSIE – Employees of Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie
demonstrated outside the hospital on Wednesday afternoon to complain about
the policies they say are unfair to workers and patients. The workers
are upset over what they say are working conditions including staff shortfalls.
Cindi Sexton has worked at Vassar for eight years as a registered nurse.
“We are tired and overworked and now being forced to come in sick, which is ironic because we work with sick people every day,” Sexton said.
Kevin Gyscek-Strauss is a 25-year sonographer, who said the hospital is being “punitive” toward the employees.
“When you are short staffed and you are sick, your immune system goes down and you get sick and they want to be much more punitive than have had been in the past,” Gyscek-Strauss said.
Hospital spokesman John Nelson said they have seen “an increase in the number of patients seeking our excellent healthcare services. To meet those needs, we are adding positions and actively recruiting for additional staff.” He said anyone interested in learning more and applying, should visit www.healthquest.org/careers .
Nelson said they are “attempting to negotiate with the unions a modified policy on unscheduled absence.” He said the proposed policy “is fair, makes a reasonable allowance for unscheduled absences, and would not adversely affect most employees.”
