32BJ launches media campaign against New York-Presbyterian hospital system

Don’t let the slogan fool you. NewYork-Presbyterian is not in fact “amazing,” according to 32BJ SEIU. 

The labor union, which represents tens of thousands of property service workers, is launching a six-figure media campaign against NewYork–Presbyterian on Thursday, slamming the city’s largest private hospital system for what they characterize as unnecessarily costly services. A TV spot set to run on NY1, CNN and Bloomberg TV charges that NewYork-Presbyterian is saddling New Yorkers with “sky high prices” for routine services despite receiving millions in tax breaks. A mobile billboard truck will be parked outside of various hospital facilities over the next few weeks, displaying the video on a continuous loop. Digital ads are also slated to run across social media.

The campaign is the latest salvo in the conflict between 32BJ and NewYork-Presbyterian. The union dropped NewYork-Presbyterian from its health fund network starting January 2022, arguing members were being charged higher costs for the same procedures compared to other city hospital systems. Several months ago, the 32BJ Health Fund worked to secure a new health-insurance deal with Aetna, again wanting to exclude NewYork-Presbyterian from its plan. However, given Aetna’s contract with the hospital system, NewYork-Presbyterian needed to sign off on being omitted from 32BJ’s plan. The hospital system instead demanded that the union pay $25 million or else they wouldn’t comply – a sum it argued 32BJ owed for past services. The union ultimately stuck with its previous insurer.

“Our members deserve better than the high prices and unfair practices we’ve seen from New York Presbyterian. Despite receiving hundreds of millions in tax exemptions, we’ve seen them fall short of their commitment to our communities,” Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU, said in a statement. “This campaign is just about letting the public know that despite what it claims to be, New York Presbyterian is not amazing for many New Yorkers.”

The campaign is being funded by the 32BJ Labor Industry Coalition – the joint account controlled by the union and the Real Estate Advisory Board.

In a statement, a spokesperson for New York-Presbyterian wrote: "We're proud to be one of the nation's leading hospitals, one that 32BJ's members continue to seek out when they need the very best care. Our mission is caring for every New Yorker who comes through our doors, and serving our remarkably diverse communities."