“As this long-awaited trial begins here in Schenectady, my thoughts are with the more than 1,100 former St. Clare’s Hospital employees who have waited years for accountability and justice. These are nurses, caregivers, maintenance workers, and staff who devoted decades of service to their community – only to have the promise of their hard-earned pensions taken from them.

What’s at stake in this courtroom is more than numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about fairness, trust, and respect for working people who kept their end of the bargain. No one who gave a lifetime of service should have to fight in their later years for the retirement security they were promised.

I continue to stand with the St. Clare’s pensioners and remain committed to seeing justice served for them and their families. It’s time to right this wrong and restore faith in the systems meant to protect workers and retirees.”