DC 37 launches "HEAT" campaign against proposed federal Medicaid & Medicare cuts

On March 7 at Brooklyn's Kings County Hospital, members of DC 37 and other public hospital unions launched a Healthcare Education Activist Team (HEAT) campaign to stop over $3.7 billion in proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare over the next five years. HEAT activists urged passers by to sign petitions and post cards against the cuts, in which the Health and Hospitals Corp. could potentially lose over $550 million Medicaid and $18 million in Medicare funding for public hospitals and facilities in 2008. Petition drives will take place at other HHC facilities citywide as the HEAT campaign unfolds.

DC 37 is the city's largest public employee union representing 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.