Leah Casselman, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) held a news conference in Ottawa today to denounce layoffs to 70 staff at the Royal Ottawa Hospital, including 16 members of OPSEU Local 479.
"Staff in our psychiatric hospitals already face workload issues,” Casselman said at a media conference after meeting with staff. “Now is not the time to cut staff - it will certainly affect patient care.”
Severe cuts are planned to the anxiety disorder program and to children’s mental health.
Marlene Rivier, President of Local 479 and a psychological associate at the hospital, also faces layoff as a result of the cuts, which management has blamed on a $9 million dollar budget shortfall. “Staff were shocked and dismayed, and very concerned for the patients,” she said.
Casselman pointed to an increase in administration salaries to demonstrate that the layoffs could have been avoided.
“They’ve given themselves double digit raises including 26 per cent for the CEO and now they say the money is not there for front line staff,” Casselman said.
OPSEU represents about 200 of the 700 staff at the Royal Ottawa location.
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For further information: David Cox 416-443-8888 x 314
Marlene Rivier 613-722-6521 x 6608
