AJAX – OPSEU is calling on Health
Minister George Smitherman to keep his April 10 promise
that no layoffs will take place at the Rouge Valley
Health System.
Late Thursday afternoon the hospital
issued layoff notice to more than 130 unionized workers
at the hospital. The minister and hospital have both
previously said these jobs could be reduced through
attrition.
“While some workers may be eligible to
take early retirement, and some may take up existing
vacancies in the hospital, it is up to the health
minister and the CEO of the hospital to live up to their
recent pledge that no one will lose their jobs,” said
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
OPSEU recently struck an agreement with
the Rouge Valley Hospital and Central East Local Health
Integration Network that no changes would take place
before a July 11 Judicial Review. Yesterday's layoffs
will not take effect before that date and can be revoked
depending on the outcome of the review.
The union is arguing the LHIN failed to
fulfill the terms of its mandate by making service
decisions before any disclosure or public consultation
on the recent cuts to 20 mental health beds in
Ajax-Pickering. The unions expect the court to hear the
case July 11.
“It’s a high growth community where
there are already shortages. This will just make it more
difficult to recruit and retain the professionals Rouge
Valley needs, now and in the future,” said Thomas.
While the hospital has announced cuts to
20 mental health beds at the Ajax-Pickering Hospital,
there has been no disclosure as to the full impact on
health services by the total number of job cuts
announced yesterday by the hospital.
“It’s time the Minister and Rouge Valley
CEO Rik Ganderton come clean and tell us the truth as to
where these cuts are coming from,” said Thomas. “This is
not the transparency we came to expect from the LHIN,
the hospital and the ministry of health.”
Print this page