Westchester Medical Center Executives Under Fire for Increased Pay During Layoffs

Roughly 20 executives at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., received compensation increases in 2010, the same year in which the hospital laid off 130 employees, froze hiring and cut $18 million from the 2011 budget, according to a Journal News report.

Union representatives and other hospital employees denounced the pay raises, saying the rank-and-file workers are bearing the brunt of the financially tight times. "There is no shared sacrifice, [and] there is no appearance of a shared sacrifice," Jayne Cammisa, a union representative and a registered nurse in the hospital's transplant unit, said in the report. "It's awful what they are doing to the bottom-line workers. We've been asked to sacrifice more and more."

Mark Tulis, chairman of WMC's board, said the executives received hikes in salary and compensation because their "titles changed, and they assumed more responsibilities," according to the report.

WMC CEO Michael Israel had the highest compensation in the non-profit hospital in 2010 with $1.3 million, a 6 percent increase from the year before.

Starting April 15, an order from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo limiting the amount of state money non-profit organizations, including hospitals, can use toward salaries to $199,000 per year will go into effect.

More Articles on Hospital Executive Compensation:

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UC Leaders Announce Pay Raises One Day After Job Cuts

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