A information picket was held outside Northumberland Hills Hospital on Wednesday, August 4, 2021.
Sharon Richer Secretary/Treasurer of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions of CUPE said their collective agreement expires at the end of September.
Richer has been travelling to 55 sites across the province which the OCH/CUPE represents 70,000 health care workers.
Negotiations have started in June with the Ontario Hospital Association with each side exchanging proposals.
“To our disbelief we were hit very hard with several concessions.”
Some of the major concessions hospitals have put forward are:
· take away members rights to bump anyone else with less seniority whose job they can do
· reduce rights in a contracting-out
· remove access to exit or retirement packages unless members would otherwise be laid off
· double the time it takes to post a job
· take away seniority as a major factor in getting jobs
· allow others to do our work
· remove members rights to return to your old job when a member is posted for a new one
The Government is also “forcing” a one-percent wage increase.
A hand out stated, “The Ford government has passed legislation to limit wage increases for three years to one-percent.”
“Inflation is 3.6 percent. This would beam a 2.6 percent cut to wages in the first year alone.”
The pamphlet read, “the union will not accept concessions in bargaining and will push Ford on wages. After all of your courage, hard work and sacrifice during the pandemic, your union believes that you deserve to see an increase in your real income.”
“We also believe that the most pressing health and safety problems, like the difficulty we experienced accessing N95 masks during the pandemic, must be addressed in this round of bargaining.
“We can’t accept that your reward is to go backwards.
A number of union members came out over the lunch hour and listened and spoke with Richer about issues taking place.
“This is no way to treat heroes,” said Richer.
While CUPE members were standing along Depalma Drive a number of vehicles passing by honked in support of the demonstration.
“I hear the beeps and honks and I know this community supports health care workers and he (Ford) should too.”
Richer said they are asking Government to remove Bill-124 limiting the one-percent increase or at the least make heath care workers exempt.
“Police and firefighters are not covered under this Bill so they could make health care workers exempt.”
Richer said the pandemic showed there are so many things needed in the Collective Agreement including psychological benefits.
“They have given their all for 18-months and some of them need psychological care and we don’t have any of that in our Collective Agreement.”
Sue Burnell who is President of CUPE Local 2628 at Northumberland Hills Hospital said Wednesday was just the start of a long process.
“Today is not even an inch in what we need to be doing.”
CUPE members at NHH have been working so much throughout the pandemic.
“They’ve taken more time away from their home and we’re getting repaid by a slap in the face.”
“Our government is not standing up and they are not looking at the whole picture.”
Burnell said the nurses/hospital staff are “dwindling.”
“We’re losing staff, left, right and centre. They’re not coming to work, they are sick, injured, hurt and mentally fatigued.”
Even Registered Practical Nurse placement students are coming in and stating this isn’t what they thought it would be like.
“We’re going to lose nursing staff in the next five years and where’s our health care system going to be?”
“We need to clear the plate with the government and say enough is enough.”
Burnell is calling for the government to have fair negotiations and no ultimatums.
“Sit down and negotiate with us. We want to talk. We want to be there for our community.”
“We’re so tired.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
