Union Big: Malloy “Very Thin Skinned and He Holds Grudges.”
Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s baffling Medicaid cuts are causing revelations, confusion, and strife throughout the state’s far-flung and complex healthcare system. ECHN head Peter Karl asked his friends last week at AFT (which represents some of the state’s unionized nurses) to condemn the cuts and their impact on Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville Hospital. An internal debate ensued.
Here’s the internal analysis provided by influential union lobbyist Jennifer Berigan to AFT colleagues in a September 22nd email:
If we take a stand against these cuts for ECHN, that would directly contradict the position we took last nighr on these cuts for Windham.
We should also consider that publicly opposing the cuts could cause problems with our relationship with the Governor. He hates Peter Karl and if we side with Karl on this issue, we could create a lot more drama for ourselves and our members on just about anything, not just hospital funding. He is very thin skinned and he holds grudges. It’s that simple.
We have also been railing against hospital CEO compensation. Opposing cuts may also contradict that position. I understand that Karl is on the lower end of that compensation scale, but we have to be consistent across the state.
If a public statement is preferred I would suggest that it be very broad and mild – we are concerned about how these cuts may impact patient care and those who provide it.
Jennifer Berigan, AFT Connecticut
Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4
Note that this is a Malloy friend and ally writing. Fear holds a prominent place in state government, poisoning rational and civil discourse. Hospital patients–or those denied care–will pay a fearsome price for this ugly, frightened cult of personality that has taken root. Berigan describes herself on Twitter as an “ultraprogressive”. In her email, Berigan sounds like an ordinary hack, giving more weight to small interests over the larger public good.