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Politics and your health care profession June 2, 2004 OPEN LETTER The Honourable George Smitherman, MPP Dear Minister: Last year, arbitrator Bendel’s award set the standard for hospital professionals’ wages and working conditions. He understood that real salary increases and better working conditions were needed for hospitals to recruit and retain professionals in the “paramed” group. His award only began to address the problems. Sadly, the reaction of some Ontario hospitals to the Bendel award has been as an excuse for layoffs. We have seen this in Chatham-Kent (see my letter to you dated Dec. 4, 2003). Recently we’ve seen more layoffs, at Northeast Mental Health, West Nipissing, and Hotel Dieu Kingston. These layoffs make a mockery of the Bendel award. These hospitals have, through these actions, decided to again undermine their unionized hospital professionals to maintain and enhance the wages of doctors and nurses. Because of these measures, OPSEU members could receive less than they deserve for fear of layoffs. That’s the message from the hospitals. But what message is your government sending out? In the Budget speech, Greg Sorbara repeatedly said shorter wait times would be a priority. But how do you reduce wait times for MRI/CT without more MRI/CT technologists? How do you reduce wait times for cancer care, cardiac care, hip and knee replacements and other processes without the diagnostic, rehabilitative and therapeutic professionals who perform them? The answer: it’s impossible. Yet these same professionals continue to hear and read, in your budget and elsewhere, about the shortages of doctors and nurses. Does this mean hospitals are free to lay off other hospital professionals? How will it help hospitals if they load up on doctors and nurses while laying off other key members of the team? I warn you: if we go down this road there will be more shortages, longer wait times, and compromised patient care. I ask that you address this situation immediately by demanding full accountability from hospitals and stop all hospital professionals layoffs now. Sincerely, (signed) Leah Casselman, President Politics and Your Health Care Profession Index
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Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8 (416) 443-8888 www.opseu.org |
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