FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2005
Bluewater Health layoffs unacceptable: OPSEU
Budget cuts will harm patient care
SARNIA: Layoffs at any of Bluewater Health's three sites are simply unacceptable, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says.
Budget problems forcing the hospital to deal with a $14-million shortfall after $4.5 million in cuts are another example of the McGuinty Liberals' health care policies leaving hospitals in chaos, the union says.
Health Minister George Smitherman must not permit any layoffs at Bluewater, OPSEU President Leah Casselman said. "These unnecessary cuts are caused by the Liberals forcing the hospital to deal with a financial squeeze of the province's own making. Premier McGuinty was elected to improve health care services, not cut
them."
"We need to know now which services the hospital has identified for possible cuts," said Ann Steadman, unit chair of Local 145. "The Sarnia-Lambton community must 'wake up' to the fact that hospital health services will be reduced without community based services in place. Cuts will mean lay-offs for an already
demoralized hospital workforce."
"How can young people be attracted to health care professions when job security is in doubt? The shortage of diagnostic and rehabilitation professionals is getting worse. All our resources are stretched; there is no slack in the system to respond to SARS or another similar event," she added.
"In January, Smitherman announced $91-million in funding for hospital severances, and now we see services being threatened in Sarnia and Petrolia. If this is the minister's plan, the next person in the health care system to be cut should be George Smitherman," said Casselman.
OPSEU represents about 40,000 workers across the health care system including hospital professionals, mental health, community health professionals, health care support, ambulance, long- term care and ministry staff.
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For further information:
Ann Steadman, Local 145, 519-542-9708
Steve Nield, OPSEU Staff representative 519-383-5643
David Cox, OPSEU Communications, cell 416-788-9197.
