Mental Health Division

BROCKVILLE MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE
 

Thomas to Local 439 members: “We will not back down.”

August 20, 2009

On Tuesday, August 18, 2009, OPSEU President Smokey Thomas met with members of Local 439 at Brockville Mental Health Centre to deliver a clear message from their union: OPSEU will not back down from the fight to save mental health jobs in Brockville.

Thomas told the packed house in the Brockville Legion Hall that keeping quality mental health care jobs in the area is the main priority for members and those who rely on mental health services.

“Our primary goal is to prevent the closure of this facility,” Thomas said. “We cannot allow this government to throw away quality jobs, and quality public services, that are both so desperately needed in this region.”

The Brockville Mental Health Centre has been slated for closure effective March 31, 2011. The closure of 64 transitional treatment beds will result in the loss of 136 full-time equivalent positions, but, in reality, affects many more workers in casual and part-time positions.

Thomas went on to say that he has committed the full resources of the union to convince the provincial government that mental health services in Brockville must be preserved. “Our members provide services to the public that are irreplaceable,” Thomas said. “Moving treatment to Ottawa is a short-sighted decision that hurts mental health care, not improves it.”

Thomas also assured members of Local 439 that no matter what the outcome, the union is focussed on protecting members throughout this process. “At the end of the day we want to ensure that everyone is protected and suffers the least harm. Your union will always be there for you and will continue to fight as long as it takes.”

Local 439 President David McDougall thanked his members for their continued support. “The strength of our members will be the key in our success. We will continue to provide all the information we can during this process, and we thank President Thomas and OPSEU for all the help they are giving us.”