OCHU

OCHU July newsletter: Wage Freeze?

Province calls unions to talks

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan met with the leaders of the largest public sector employers and unions July 20 to ask that they suspend bargaining and arbitration and enter into consultations with the province.
The consultations begin August 9. It is expected that CUPE and OCHU will be consulted with from August 30 to September 13, along with other healthcare unions. Mr. Duncan told the crowd that the province would respect signed collective agreements. But he also said that for agreements that are open now and for agreements that come open, the province expects that there will be no net increase in compensation for a 2 year period.....read more

OCAP - Special Diet Update

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions of CUPE joins in the call for the charges against our friends and anti-poverty activists to be immediately dropped.

Instead of trying to silence voices that challenge the liberal government cut backs through unnecessary criminal charges, the liberals have to maintain vital programs like the special diet.

It is unconscionable during one of the worst economic crisis's this province has ever faced that this government plans on eliminating a program that provides for vital healthy food and sustenance to the poor.

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions of CUPE actively supports the campaign to maintain the special diet and raise the rates for OW & ODSP recipients and we will continue our support, regardless of intimidation tactics of arrests and bogus criminal charges, until those gains are made. Indeed, this will only strengthen our resolve to stand in solidarity and join the struggle with OCAP and other allies.

Canadian Health Coalition - Breakfast Briefing

Canadians are being told that public health care financing is not sustainable, and that the solution is a shift to more private health insurance and private delivery of services. Canada’s pre-eminent health economist Robert G. Evans, O.C., Ph.D., presents the facts and the debunks the myths, and renowned pollster Nik Nanos reviews the numbers.
http://medicare.ca/medicare-sustainability-facts-myths
Visit this special webpage for resources, including:
Video of the M.P.Breakfast Briefing, Video of the Press Conference,News Release: Leading economist shatters myth that public health care is ‘unsustainable’, Fact Sheet: Sustainability of Health Care: Myths and Facts, Powerpoint Presentation by Robert G. Evans, Powerpoint Presentation by Nik Nanos, Media Coverage and More

Demutualization Settlement Reached

A settlement has been reached between CUPE, ONA, OPSEU, CAW, SEIU and the Ontario Hospital Association concerning monies that employers participating in mutual insurance policies received when the insurers demutualized. If your employer participated in the Hospitals Of Ontario Disability Insurance Plan on December 29, 1997 and if you were employed on that date you will be eligible for a HOODIP premium holiday or, if you have left the employer, a $100 cheque. For further information go to: OCHU Demutualization Page

The Public Sector: Searching for a Focus

Sam Gindin and Michael Hurley

As capitalism begins to emerge from the ‘Great Financial Crisis,’ there is good reason for working people to refrain from celebration. Though the roots of the crisis were in the private sector, it's clear that the bill will be primarily paid via the public sector – which is to say that the costs will be placed on the working class as both providers and recipients of social services. ...read more

OCHU March newsletter: Defending Healthcare

Bonuses for our managers to cut costs - Ministry of Health will set price targets

The Ontario government announced big changes to hospital funding in its throne speech March 8.
The province is moving away from global funding for hospital budgets and moving instead to have money follow the patient. The plan is to have hospitals compete with one another to deliver services.
Under this scheme the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care will set prices for hospital services.....read more

For release: 6:00 a.m. May 5, 2010

Staff at Peterborough Regional Health Centre plan a major campaign to protect services from Liberal budget cuts

Peterborough Ontario…Union members attended an emergency meeting last night to discuss how to respond to the Peer Review which has called for 71 bed cuts, 151 full-time equivalent staff cuts and the closure of many clinics and other services at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.. ...read more

For immediate release: April 20, 2010

Privatization of hospital clinical services is possible, Ministry of Health discloses to Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal

Thunder Bay, Ontario…Predictions that setting prices and tendering for the provision of hospital clinical services would lead to privatization of those services were reinforced by the Ministry of Health on Monday. A Ministry of Health spokesperson, in an email to the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Herald stated that the government is “ not considering outsourcing or privatization “ and that any change in that position “ would only be undertaken with consultation with the field and that implementation would be phased in to protect hospitals and the public from service disruption. “. ...read more

For release: 6:00 a.m. April 19, 2010

Hospital staff meet to fight Liberal clinical services privatization which threatens rural and northern hospitals

Thunder Bay Ontario… 200 representatives from 65 Ontario hospital corporations represented by CUPE meet in Thunder Bay from Monday through Wednesday. On their agenda is the plan announced in the Throne Speech to set prices for hospital clinical services and tender those services to the lowest bidder. ...read more

Northumberland Media Release: 10:00 a.m. March 18, 2010

Vital services cut at Northumberland Hills Hospital- union calls on MPP to deliver for his communities

Cobourg Ontario…Vital services will be lost at the Northumberland Hills Hospital as a result of dramatic cuts to beds, services and staff, the union representing employees at the hospital charged today.
...read more

Brockville Media Release: 6:00 a.m. March 16, 2010

Hospital staff begin postcard campaign to call on province to fully cover the deficit of the Brockville General Hospital

Brockville Ontario…The Ontario government should fully fund the deficit of the Brockville General Hospital, hospital staff will request today, as they kick off a postcard campaign aimed at the provincial government. CUPE Local 5666, which is sponsoring the campaign represents 150 nurses, clerical, maintenance, cleaning, dietary and support staff at the Brockville General Hospital. The campaign will escalate, with a public meeting and a rally at the hospital on March 29. ...read more

Community Campaigns: local hospitals fighting cutbacks

Hospital union calls on province to cover the deficit of the North Bay General Hospital

NORTH BAY, ON, Feb. 18 /CNW/ - The Ontario government should fund the $6 million deficit of the North Bay General Hospital, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE requested today. ...read more

Fighting Hospital Closures

Ontario Health Care Funding: OCHU budget proposal

Pre-Budget Submission for the 2010/11 Ontario Budget to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Presentation by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions / CUPE
We would like to first of all thank this Standing Committee for allowing us to present our thoughts on the unusually important 2010-2011 provincial budget.
The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU / CUPE) represents 23,000 nursing, service, and office workers employed by 65 Ontario hospital or health care facilities. While a large majority of OCHU members provide hospital services, some OCHU members work in long term care facilities or in Emergency Medical Services, usually (but not always) under the auspices of a local hospital board...read more

Infectious diseases: prevention & control

Healthcare associated infections: A backgrounder

Healthcare associated infections develop in a patient as a result of their exposure to healthcare facilities or procedures. ...read more