Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

From the high $1.1 billion cost of a new private hospital, to the decision to close the Nipissing joint hospitals laundry, North Bay is the Petri dish experiment for the plan to restructure health care, says Michael Hurley, the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), the hospital division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

That plan, adds Hurley, includes “more privatization, pricing competition between health care providers and fewer good-waged, local health service jobs. For northern communities like North Bay, the future of health care, under this plan, will add up to both less local access to health services and fewer health service jobs.”

Hurley will deliver that message to North Bay council tonight at 7:00 p.m. — part of his presentation to municipal leaders focused on the type of health care restructuring supported by both the Dalton McGuinty Liberals and the John Tory Conservatives.

Nipissing laundry workers, slated to lose their jobs because of a decision by local health system providers to close the facility and move the service to Sudbury, will join Hurley for the deputation to council.

Hundreds of OCHU/CUPE health care workers from across the province will be travelling to North Bay for the ‘Keep Jobs Local’ rally scheduled for June 18 in support of the laundry workers.

WHO:     Michael Hurley, President, OCHU/CUPE

WHAT:   Deputation to North Bay Council

WHERE: North Bay City Hall, Council Chambers

WHEN:   June 11, 2007 — 7:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Hurley     President, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE    416-884-0770
Stella Yeadon      CUPE Communications            416-578-8774