CUPE 139 organized a strong demonstration in defense of hospital services in North Bay, Ontario on Wednesday.
Three weeks ago, the North Bay Regional Health Centre announced 40 layoffs due to a $5.6 million deficit. Hospital management is sticking with that decision despite stiff opposition from its staff.
Workers at the hospital are adamant about protecting jobs and preserving services. They say that by every indication, the hospital requires more staff on the floor to ensure patients receive the highest quality care possible.
On Wednesday, hospital staff represented by OCHU-CUPE, Ontario Nurses Association and Ontario Public Service Employees Union, in coordination with the local chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition, held rally outside the hospital demanding that the government fund the hospital properly.
A recent analysis by the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, an independent body of the provincial legislature, shows that government funding will not keep pace with requirements and thousands of nurses and personal support workers could lose their jobs in the next two years. The workers at North Bay are witnessing that in real time.
CUPE is alarmed about this turn to harsh austerity, at a critical juncture when staffing levels are insufficient in most community hospitals including North Bay’s.
“We have nurses, PSWs and clerical staff who are desperate for more hands on deck. I recently spoke with a nurse who cries in the washroom on her breaks because it is heart-wrenching for her to not be able to provide the care that people need,” says Mike Turgeon, the president of CUPE 139 which represents nearly 1,000 workers at the hospital. “Implementing cuts at this time is showing a serious disregard for the needs of patients and staff. The government needs to step up and provide the funding that we desperately need.”
The union is drawing attention to official data showing that only 41% of ER patients at NBRHC are admitted within the target time of eight hours. The average wait-time is 17 hours.
According to an research by OCHU-CUPE, the hospital must add 120 staff annually to keep up with growing patient volumes.
“These cuts are going to hurt people. You’re going to burn staff out by dumping more responsibility on their shoulders when they are already struggling to keep up with workloads,” says Sharon Richer, secretary-treasurer of CUPE’s hospital division. “It’s going to mean longer wait-times and poorer service. It’s an unconscionable move and we are not going to accept this.”