February 14: Big LHIN protests in more than 38 cities across Ontario

The province wide info-pickets Feb. 14 were a great success. OPSEU had members out at at least 38 sites across all regions of the province. Our media coverage was excellent and thousands of leaflets were handed out to the public. The response from the public was very supportive.

Together we were successful at increasing the pressure on the Premier and the Minister of Health as we head into the new session of the legislature.

Details of some of OPSEUs activities (visit www.stoplhins.ca to see the pictures as they come in) (The following list includes the OPSEU local number from each hospital or community and the approximate number of all participants including OPSEU and other coalition members.

Region 1

Chatham

Local 132 did an info picket at the local mall this past weekend, and joined ONA & CLAC at the Chatham Kent Hospital Feb 14 info-picket, giving out hundreds of leaflets to the public.

Sarnia

Local 145 - Approximately 100 people over the two sites of Bluewater Health.

London

Local 106 - Victoria Hospital had more than 250 people out for their 3:30 rally.

Stratford

Local 141 – About 60 people at Huron-Perth Health Alliance.

Region 2

Southampton

Local 260 – Southampton Hospital had close to 200 people out.

Hamilton

Local 273 - Hamilton General Hospital –OPSEU members joined CUPE in front of the hospital. OPSEU members from Local 269 also came out.

Niagara Region

Local 215 - Had members out at all three of their sites Fort Erie, Welland, New Port Centre, Greater Niagara General Hospital.

Region 3

Oshawa

Local 348 – More than 200 people from OPSEU, ONA and CUPE came out over the lunch breaks at Lakeridge Hospital to hand out leaflets and chocolate hearts – more than 50 OPSEU members from the hospital were out and were joined by members from neighbouring locals.

Ajax & Scarborough

Local 311 – had a large turnout at both sites:

Centenary had more than 250 people over the lunch shifts close. They gave out lots of leaflets and every city bus that stop in front of the hospital left with a Stop LHINs sign on the back.

Ajax had 100 people out over the lunch shifts. They also gave out lots of leaflets.

Peterborough

Local 345 and 373 - Close to 80 people were out at Peterborough Regional Hospital over the lunch breaks.

Barrie

Local 346 – More than 20 people at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Collingwood

Local 347 – Members at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital handed out leaflets to patients and lunch patrons at the restaurant across the street from the hospital.

Region 4

Ottawa

Local 479 – Royal Ottawa Hospital had more than 30 members out.

Local 464 – Had a large rally at the Civic site.

Brockville

Local 439 – Sherwood Park Manor held their info picket on Feb 13 to greet the new regional LHINs CEO and Chair of their LHINs who came for a site visit. They had a large turn out and gave out more than 400 leaflets to cars passing by.

Local 425 – Brockville General Hospital had close to 40 members out handing out leaflets.

Local 480 – Quinte Health had members out at all three of their sites – Belleville, Picton and Trenton.

Kingston

Locals 444 and 450 – Kingston General had close to 300 people out from all four unions, also joined by members from OPSEU locals 442 and 443.

Region 5

Toronto

Local 570 and 571 – OPSEU members came out in droves to join large numbers of ONA, SEIU and CUPE members covering the whole University Ave. corridor and Elizabeth St.

Local 500 –70 people out at Queen and Ossington and had the Local MPP there to speak

Local 590 had a small group of members at all three of their sites handing out leaflets to people coming into the hospitals. Everyone at the Finch site was wearing stickers and bracelets.

Region 6

Sault Ste. Marie had about 20 members in front of the Sault Area hospital – video of the event can be seen at http://ltvnews.com/viewarticle.php?id=5089

Sudbury held their info picket outside the Sudbury Regional Hospital – they had more than 200 members over lunch including a few who came from other locals to show solidarity.

Region 7

Thunder Bay info picket outside the Regional Hospital – Local 715 was joined by members of the executive from local 720. There were more than 50 people over the lunch breaks from all 4 unions. Members of Local 720 wore stickers at work in solidarity of the picket.