Hamilton health care union warns of extensive job cuts due to financial deficit

A health care union is warning of potential extensive job cuts at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) hospitals and other facilities.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says the provincial government is leaving HHS to deal with a huge deficit, and that could mean job losses.

HHS says it is the largest employer in the region, with 18,000 staff members, doctors, researchers and volunteers across a range of facilities.

But, the union says HHS is facing a projected deficit of $112 million this year, and a staffing review has been launched to look for cost savings.

President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, Michael Hurley, says the pressures facing the industry are bad enough before cuts.

“On the one hand, you’ve got this enormous pressure, back log of services, people on waiting lists, waiting for care, on stretchers waiting for admission to beds because we don’t have enough staff,” he said.

The Ministry of Health responded to the concerns raised by CUPE, saying “Hamilton Health Sciences has not communicated to CUPE staff or any other staff at the hospital that there will be layoffs.”

It says the government is “investing over $85 billion this year alone” in the health care system, and it is ensuring “all of our hospitals have the tools they need to continue delivering high-quality care.”

Regardless, the union is calling on the government to provide assurances that it will pay the HHS deficit in full.

READ MORE: Mohawk College looking at layoffs to offset next year’s $50M deficit