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Ford Government’s Health Care Staffing Plan Doesn’t Add Up; Will Leave System Tens of Thousands Workers Short

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at 1 p.m., SEIU Healthcare and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will present data that shows a terrifying gap in the number of health care workers Ontario will need over the next few years and the number of workers current Ford government plans will recruit under various announced initiatives.

The two unions are calling on immediate action and long-term, sustainable plans from Ontario’s PC government that includes retaining the current health care workforce, particularly registered practical nurses, who are burnt out and demoralized, and leaving the sector at an unprecedented pace.

Thus far, the Ford government has been using stopgap approaches to addressing the health human resource crisis, such as temporary wage enhancements for a small number on the front-lines and limited new training programs, which are not only failing to address the staffing crisis, but also creating division among the health care workforce in our hospitals, long-term care homes and community care settings.

Under the current staffing crisis, Ontarians are already paying the price, as it’s projected that the surgical and procedure backlog will take 3.5 years to clear. As Ontario’s aging and growing population drives more demand for hospital, home, and community care services, and as thousands of more long-term care beds are developed between now and 2024-25, the impacts of the staffing crisis will continue to become more severe.

70,000 hospital staff represented by CUPE and SEIU are protesting today about understaffing, lack of access to personal protective equipment and violence.

WHO:

Michael Hurley, President Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE)
 
Sharleen Stewart, President SEIU Healthcare
 

WHAT:

Media conference – Ontario’s health care staffing plans will leave system tens of thousands of workers short.
 

WHEN:

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 1 p.m.
 

WHERE:

https://bit.ly/ochuseiu211207

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Contacts

For information contact:
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications, 416-559-9300, syeadon@cupe.ca
Corey Johnson, SEIU Healthcare Communications, 416- 529-8909, c.johnson@seiuhealthcare.ca

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

For information contact:
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications, 416-559-9300, syeadon@cupe.ca
Corey Johnson, SEIU Healthcare Communications, 416- 529-8909, c.johnson@seiuhealthcare.ca

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