The Hospital Employees’ Union is renewing its call for a moratorium on the Campbell Liberals’ privatization plans in the wake of revelations that links a key anti-abortion kingpin to a housekeeping contract at Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Vancouver.
“This is a chilling example of how in its rush to dismantle and sell off our health care system, this government is putting at risk the health and safety of patients and health care workers who provide abortion services,” says HEU spokesperson Chris Allnutt.
“Clearly, the Campbell Liberals and their health authorities don’t know what they’re doing,” says Allnutt. “Two weeks ago, we witnessed evidence of collusion and a conspiracy by private contractors to blacklist union members in the privatization tendering process.
“Now, in their efforts to contain the damage from that scandal, health bosses have blindly staggered into yet another disaster.”
In addition to a moratorium, HEU is calling for an independent investigation into the impacts of privatization and contracting out in health care.