One of the buildings on the Bronx campus of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. (Wikimedia Commons)
NEW YORK (JTA) — Over 2,500 employees at the Yeshiva University medical school will be warned of possible layoffs as a result of the Montefiore Health System’s takeover of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s operations.
Y.U. will send its medical school employees the 90-day notice letter required by state law in advance of layoffs of 250 people or more, the Forward reported. It is unclear exactly how many, if any, will actually be let go.
In a statement to JTA, the university said it expects “most qualified Einstein employees” to keep their jobs.
“Yeshiva University and Montefiore Health System are working diligently to finalize the agreement related the creation of a new entity to operate the Albert Einstein College of Medicine on or around July 1st,” the statement said. “As required by law, notification letters will be mailed to approximately 2,400 Einstein employees next week about the transition. Most qualified Einstein employees are expected to be offered positions at either the new entity or Montefiore. Further details regarding the transition will be provided to employees by Yeshiva’s and Montefiore’s human resources departments over the coming weeks.”
In February, Y.U. indicated that a deal to hand over the operations of its medical school to cut costs was finally imminent after eight months of failed negotiations with Montefiore Health System. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine has accounted for an estimated two-thirds of Y.U.’s large deficits, which have reached $100 million in recent years.
A document obtained by the Forward dated March 23, which indicates that Y.U. is preparing a draft of the notice letter, reads, “On June 30, 2015, or within 14 days thereafter (‘Closing Date’) Yeshiva University … will cease to employ any of the employees currently performing services at all Einstein locations. We are advised, however, that with respect to employees of Einstein, Montefiore currently intends to make offers of employment to those Einstein employees that Montefiore determines to be qualified.”
