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2004 | |
January 14, 2004 70 community therapists receive lay-off notices due to Ottawa CCAC Policies OTTAWA - The Ottawa Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)’s plan to sell its work to the lowest bidder will force the layoff of 70 community-based occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers from their employer, Kaymar Rehabilitation Inc. OPSEU First Vice President/Treasurer Smokey Thomas denounced the competitive bidding process at a press conference today. “I can’t believe that the head of the CCAC, Graham Byrd doesn’t understand that the people of Ontario got rid of the Tories and their agenda because it almost destroyed community based health care,” said Thomas. “Byrd is clearly living in the past and ought to be replaced.” “The competitive bidding system introduced by the Harris-Eves Tories is killing home care and should be abolished”, said Nancy Surkes, the President of OPSEU Local 485. Therapists, already in short supply throughout the health care system, are difficult to recruit to community-based work. Salaries are falling behind, and the instability of community work is leading to the exodus of experienced therapists throughout the province. There is no guarantee of continuity of care for clients receiving therapy services. “The changes will mean loss of continuity of care,” said Surkes. “Qualified and dedicated staff, already underpaid and undervalued, will lose incentive to stay on the job.” Loss of continuity of care may also mean loss of independence for some clients if they don’t receive the therapy required to improve their function, therapists say. “The competitive bidding process is all about cost saving, at the expense of care,” said Thomas. The union is calling on the new provincial government to eliminate the competitive bidding process for therapy work, maintaining existing staff to provide the care, and to follow through quickly on its promises to improve community-based health care. -30- For further information:
2004 Press Release Index | 2003 Press Release 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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