SUDBURY, Ont. – Front line staff hospital staff say they are poised to mobilize the community against a new round of cuts to nursing care at the St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre.
Their community mobilizing effort kicks off tomorrow Friday June 6 with a noon time rally at St. Joseph’s, 1140 South Bay Road.
The hospital has indicated that six full-time registered practical nurse (RPN) positions out of a unit of 18 RPNs will be eliminated. “Cutting one third of the nursing staff will have a significant impact to patient care,” says Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1623 president Dave Shelefontiuk.
Ontario government funding for health services has fallen far short of population aging, growth cost pressures and inflation. Currently, Ontario spends less on public services like health care than any other province. Consequently, Ontario patients receive six hours less nursing care than the Canadian average.
“Provincial spending on health care has been steadily decreasing over the last few years. It seems that Ontarians are paying for corporate tax cuts with cuts to nursing care and hospital services,” says Michael Hurley CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) president, who will be attending the noon rally Friday.
For more information please contact:
Dave Shelefontiuk
President CUPE 1623
705-929-8457
Michael Hurley
President Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE)
416-884-0770
Stella Yeadon
CUPE Communications
416-559-9300