Delegates overwhelmingly approved a resolution Friday opposing efforts to privatize State University of New York hospitals, such as Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. William Scheuerman, president of NYSUT's SUNY affiliate, United University Professions, entered a special order of business approved by delegates directing NYSUT to resist any efforts to take UMU out of the SUNY system.
Late last year, the Berger Commission recommended that UMU be merged with the private Crouse Hospital into a non-SUNY entity. UUP, with support from NYSUT, has filed a lawsuit claiming, among other things, that the unelected members of the Berger Commission had no authority to create public policy. UUP and NYSUT have been calling on Gov. Eliot Spitzer to intervene and keep UMU part of the SUNY system and to allow it to continue the vital pubic services it provides.