HAMILTON, ON – Ontario’s Liberal government is funding hospitals at the lowest rate per person of any province. Across the province and in Hamilton, community hospitals are cutting patient care and shedding and contracting out services.
In Hamilton both St. Joseph’s and Hamilton Health Sciences are planning to cut whole departments and contract out the services. Although St. Joe’s could maximize its in house patient transport service by cutting the use of outside van services and taxis costing nearly $300,000/year, the hospital has indicated it will instead contract out the service.
Today, hospital workers who are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will rally in Hamilton against the “closed-door” contract deals and cuts at local hospitals. The rally is slated for 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at St. Joe’s on Charlton between John and James streets.
Decisions on cuts and hospital service contracting out are being “made without any public scrutiny. There is no meaningful dialogue with the people affected in the community and there is certainly no transparency,” says Michael Hurley the president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU). Hurley and Rolf Gerstenberger with the Hamilton Health Coalition will be guest speakers at tomorrow’s rally.
For more information please contact:
Stella Yeadon
CUPE Communications
416-559-9300