St. Vincent's Hospital begins layoffs

NEW YORK But instead of actually getting layoff notices in person, the workers who lost their jobs say the hospital fired them over the phone, using automated calls.

St. Vincent's, the last Catholic general hospital in New York City, is currently $700 million in debt. Administrators said the layoffs were needed to keep the hospital open.

Among those laid off were medical residents, managers and unionized staff, including nurses, housekeepers and orderlies.

Unions representing nurses and other workers were voting on whether to accept the cuts.