Niagara health-care workers’ union tour region protesting cuts of nearly 100 jobs

Dozens of healthcare workers and their supporters drove across the Niagara region Thursday, stopping at hospitals and urgent care centres along the way.

It was part of a protest against Niagara Health’s recent announcement that it would eliminate nearly 100 jobs in its hospital network.

Dozens of cars, including a truck with loud speakers, drove to Fort Erie’s Complex and Urgent Care Centre Thursday afternoon.

It was one stop on a Niagara-region wide protest against looming job cuts from Niagara Health.

The hospital network told staff late last month that 88 union and 10 non-union support staff positions would be eliminated in order to save $9 million, as it faces a $26 million budget deficit.

“Cuts are not going to help the workers who are trying their best to give good quality care continue to give that care,” said Jackie Walker, the executive vice-president of the Service Employee International Union. “So what that means is the public is going to suffer.”

In a statement to CHCH News, Niagara Health says the vast majority of cuts will come from not hiring for vacancies and redeploying current staff.

The majority of jobs cut will be in administration, IT and facilities.

READ MORE: Niagara Health, St. Joe’s Hamilton to cut 160 jobs amid budget pressures

They say nine people could face lay-offs in the coming months, if they can’t be redeployed, though they’re working with the union to avoid this, but the union is concerned what a shrinking staff will mean for the healthcare workers who provide hands-on care.

“Because then they have to take out the garbage, they have to make sure the rooms are clean, they have to porter people throughout the hospital,” said Walker. “It doesn’t matter who you are removing from the system, it’s going to impact patient care.”

Local healthcare workers at Thursday’s rally shared that opinion, with some saying cutting staff would mean putting more work on everyone else.

Others worried that this week’s job cuts could only signal the start of more in the future.

Earlier this year, the Port Colborne and Fort Erie Urgent Care Centres saw a reduction in hours, and are slated to close in 2028 when the new Welland hospital opens — a decision the local community is still fighting to reverse.

Local MPP Wayne Gates points to the Ford government, and its recent $125 million investment in for-profit orthopaedic clinics.

“It’s not about money, we have the money,” said Gates. “It’s about choices, and the choice should always be to invest in a publicly funded healthcare system, not a private healthcare system.”

READ MORE: Niagara health care workers’ union to rally against layoffs, understaffing