ROTTERDAM. N.Y. (NEWS10) -- October marks six years since more than 1100 St. Claire's Hospital pensioners have been fighting for their pensions. Thursday night, NEWS10 at a meeting in Rotterdam to find out what the next step for the embattled group will be.
Some of the workers say they have been with the hospital for nearly 50 years. “48 years of service,” said St. Claire’s pensioner, Leonard Adams.
“30 years,” said Angie Stewart, another pensioner.
Pensioner Maureen Campbell said, “26 years.”
On October 18th of 2018, St. Claire’s hospital workers were notified they wouldn’t receive some or any of their pension money.
“Me personally, I’ll end up working longer,” said Campbell.
Despite the endless wait, they approached tonight's meeting still hopeful. “I pray and hope that tonight is the night,” said Adams.
The Albany diocese declared bankruptcy. Yet, the litigation continued. New York leaders say the state needs to do more. “At the federal level, they passed the stimulus of $1.6 trillion, not millions, not billions, trillions. $87 billion of that was for 200 other unions who went bankrupt. But they couldn't make whole 1100 healthcare workers who are devastated, right now?” Questioned New York Senator Jim Tedisco.
The pensioners believe $110 million dollars would be what it costs, to make this right. However, only two million dollars has been offered through mediation. Tedisco says the state needs to take a deeper look saying, “I foiled right at the beginning of this, the State of New York for the Berger commission's agreement on this. In the Berger Commission’s documents, it said about mid $20 million was what they agreed upon. Later on in the document, I find out the recommendation was for $40 million. So, I think we have to revisit this and take a look at what's going on with the agreement to begin with.”
Even though the meeting did not bring about a miracle, pensioners are glad they are being heard. “It might not be a lot of details, it might be a few. But just to keep them involved and know that we are still ongoing, trying to fight this case,” said Campbell.
And they are happy to be legally represented. “We have a dynamic legal team that we've put together and they're all pro bono,” said Stewart.
NEWS10 reached out to The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, they sent the following response,
“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany is eager to see this case move forward and promptly resolved for the St. Clare’s pensioners. That is why the diocese decided not to oppose the pensioners’ motion in May 2023 to lift the stay on the case that was imposed upon our bankruptcy filing.
The diocese also continues to offer help to any pensioners in emergency need. We first made the offer after seeing Mary Hartshorne’s open letter to Pope Francis in April of 2023. In it, she said, ‘We cannot pay our rent or mortgages, our medical bills, our gas or groceries. In some cases, we cannot bury our own dead.’
We continue to encourage anyone who may be facing such hardships to reach out, even if they are in litigation, provided that their counsel would be willing. There are many wonderful and caring agencies throughout the Capital Region, including within our diocese, and we would be happy to help make connections. No one should walk alone.”
The fight is not over, and the St. Claire’s pensioners are in for the long haul. “I know from the government perspective; the squeaky wheel often gets the grease. So, it's being persistent in making the case that hopefully will bring the resolution about quicker,” said Rotterdam Town Board Member, Joe Mastroianni.
