Hundreds of health-care workers protest against planned HHS job cuts

Hundreds of health-care workers rallied outside Hamilton General Hospital today to protest planned job cuts at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).

With patients already facing long wait times, workers warn the cuts could put even more pressure on the health-care system.

Workers fought back against HHS’ plan to cut 413 positions and spoke out about what this could mean for patients. The affected jobs include 143 nursing positions and other front-line health-care positions.

Nurse Ashley Fougere joined the protest.

“I’m protesting against hallway health-care and against any cuts,” Fougere said. “It leads to burnout, emotional and physical exhaustion. We are already burnt out now.”

HHS made the announcement last month after the hospital network said it was facing a $150-million budget shortfall. But with patients already facing long waits, the union fears these cuts could make it even harder for people to get the care they need.

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“Cuts to workers, cuts to services, cuts to patients, cuts to hospitals — a cancer hospital, trauma hospital, children’s hospital and a seniors’ hospitals — that’s what these cuts mean,” said Jillian Watt, president of CUPE Local 7800. “Less staff, that means there’s less time being spent on patients, which are our children, our family, our parents. It’s causing extra work for the workers who are going to be exhausted, more than they already are now. Sick calls which will leave us short even more. So the patients are the ones who are going to be impacted the most by this.”

Union data shows emergency room patients at Hamilton General wait an average of 24 hours for an admission bed, a major contrast to the Ontario government’s target wait time of eight hours.

“There is no question who’s responsible here for this crisis,” said Candace Rennick, CUPE national secretary-treasurer. “Front-line health-care workers are not responsible for this crisis. The Ford government’s failure to properly fund our health care is responsible for this crisis.”

Watt is calling on the provincial government to step in.

“We want to see our public health care funded properly,” she said.

In a statement to CHCH News, the Ontario government said the changes at Hamilton Health Sciences will not affect patient care or services. It also said hospitals are responsible for their own staffing decisions.

Meanwhile, Watt said workers have not yet received layoff notices, but a meeting is scheduled for Friday. The union says job cuts will be discussed by Hamilton residents at a town hall on Nov. 10.

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