Job cuts at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton prompts union rally

The union representing hospital staff at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton has scheduled a rally for Friday at 11:30 a.m. to protest the elimination of about 60 positions.

CUPE 786, who represents about 2,000 hospital staff at St. Joseph’s, says the job cuts include personal support workers, clerical and administrative staff.

The cuts are said to be in response to underfunding by the province.

“The provincial government’s recent budget increased hospital funding by ”up to four per cent” but this is an effective cut with costs rising by six per cent,” CUPE 786 says in a press release.

The union says the hospital is cutting weekend hours for clerical staff and transferring their responsibilities to nurses.

“We know the life-saving role of nurse-to-patient ratios, so to take that time away from nurses and asking them to take on clerical roles is dangerous,” says Rick Rigby, president of CUPE 786 in a statement. “There is a real impact on patient health outcomes when you starve them of nursing care.”

The statement from CUPE 786 discusses a recent study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives which says in 2024 to 2025, 90 per cent of patients at St. Joseph’s Hamilton waited 33.6 hours for admission to a hospital bed, compared to 30.8 hours five years ago.

The rally is set for 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Charlton Campus.

READ MORE: Niagara Parks workers may strike next week for fair wages