News Releases    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2006

St. Joseph’s Regional Mental Health Care workers protest job cuts

LONDON – Employees at St Joseph’s Regional Mental Health Care will hold candlelight vigils this evening to protest planned cuts to jobs and services despite an apparent budget surplus.

Date: Wednesday, February 15

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7: 30 p.m.

Locations: Regional Mental Health Care, London, 850 Highbury Ave., London; and Regional Mental Health Care, St. Thomas, 467 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas.

St. Joseph’s has told employees at the two sites that layoffs are possible pending the findings of a consultant’s report expected later this month.

It’s not clear if the layoffs are part of, or are in addition to, the 117 job cuts announced earlier this month for London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care.

“St. Joseph’s is stonewalling our members and the community when it comes to the threat of layoffs and the effect on patient care,” said Kim Anderson, acting president of Local 152 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing 1,300 employees.

“The hospital says layoffs are possible on the one hand and yet admits at a forum of employees last week that its mental health care budget has a surplus,” said Anderson.

Employees will wear black today and every Wednesday to show their opposition to job losses and program cuts and concern for patient care.

Regional Mental Health Care London and St. Thomas provide specialized mental health services through inpatient and outpatient programs to 13 counties in Southwestern Ontario.

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For further information:

Kim Anderson, union office: (519) 631-8510 ext. 49500; cell: (519) 765-8660
Rob Kinnear, London Regional Office: (519) 649-7770