By Jon Schuppe
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Workers at St. Vincent’s Medical Center reportedly agreed to pay cuts Wednesday in a deal that will help keep the floundering hospital in business.
The 10 percent wage reductions apply to members of 1199 SEIU, the union that represents most workers at the hospital, and the New York State Nurses Association, NY1 reported. Non-union employees are also facing pay cuts and 32 doctors are losing their jobs.
Officials hope that slashing salaries will help pull the hospital out of its financial tailspin. Deep in debt and unable to accept many new patients, St. Vincents was nearly shuttered earlier this month. But a proposed takeover fell through, and the hospital is scrambling to get its books in order.
Gov. David Paterson granted the hospital $12 million in loans to keep it running for the next few weeks.