“At our wits end trying to serve patients” – Oak Valley staff to rally on Thursday in response to 65 job cuts

CUPE 3651 is calling for more hospital funding as jobs disappear amidst provincial austerity

Markham, ON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the past several months, the Markham-Stouffville hospital has consistently operated at over 120 per cent capacity due to a shortage of staffed beds. The crowded hallways are lined up with patients often enduring debilitating pain – some who suffer lasting consequences due to long wait-times.

Health care workers, who have been at their wits end trying to manage patient flow and provide the best service possible, have been imploring management for more resources. But now, in the wake of provincial funding cuts, the hospital has decided to cut 65 jobs, the majority of which are clerical positions.

“It’s unimaginable that Oak Valley would implement staffing cuts when most departments need more hands on deck, not fewer,” said Lesley Sullivan, clerical worker and the president of CUPE 3651, representing approximately 1,000 employees at Oak Valley Health. “These cuts will only intensify the existing staffing crisis and further deprive our patients of quality care.”

The union is holding a rally in protest on Thursday, March 19 at 11:30 a.m.

The cuts at Oak Valley Health are part of a sector-wide trend in the face of provincial austerity as hospitals collectively face a billion dollar deficit, noted CUPE leaders.

The Ford government is implementing a 10 per cent budget cut for Ontario’s hospitals over three years, which has resulted in job cuts across the province including Ottawa, Toronto, North Bay, and Hamilton.

Marilen Barreda, registered practical nurse, and vice president of CUPE 3651, said clerical workers play a critical role in supporting patient flow, coordinating care, managing patient information, and ensuring departments run efficiently. She said the clerical job cuts would significantly impede the hospital’s ability to serve a growing volume of patients in a system already stretched to its limits.

Union officials pointed to latest provincial data showing that only 20 per cent of ER patients at the Markham-Stouffville site are admitted within the target time of eight hours. The average wait-time is 25.7 hours.

“How is it acceptable for the provincial government to implement cuts at a hospital where 80 per cent of ER patients can’t be admitted on time?” said Michael Hurley, president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions. “There will be severe consequences - the people of Markham and Uxbridge will suffer longer wait-times, rushed care, preventable mistakes, and poorer service all around.”

Who: CUPE 3651 members and community allies
Lesley Sullivan, president of CUPE 3651
Marilen Barreda, vice president of CUPE 3651
Michael Hurley, president of OCHU-CUPE
Sharon Richer, secretary treasurer, OCHU-CUPE

What: Rally in response to staff cuts at Oak Valley Health

Where: Markham-Stouffville Hospital, 381 Church St., Markham, ON

When: 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 19

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