Layoffs come to Peterborough Hospital: The human face of Ontario public sector cuts

CUPE Local 1943 president Karen Ward has broken the news that Peterborough Regional Health Centre is planning to lay off 42 CUPE members. CUPE's employment security language may help divert some of this into early retirements and voluntary exits.

The hospital has already eliminated another 31 CUPE positions, through attrition and a hiring freeze. The hospital is meeting with its four union locals to deal with the layoffs. Earlier, the Ontario Nurses Association announced that 85 RNs will be given layoff notices with another 44 RN positions already eliminated. The two OPSEU locals at the hospital have already seen the loss of positions -- indeed, over 50 hospital paramedical and office positions remain vacant.

A total of 182.3 full time equivalent positions (283 actual jobs) are supposed to be eliminated across the hospital, making this the biggest hospital cuts since the Rouge Valley Health Centre. The community has held rallies and planted lawn signs demanding local Liberal MPP Jeff Leal actually fight the cuts (to little avail, so far).

"It's the wrong thing. The cuts are just far too deep." Karen adds. The CUPE local has worked closely with the Peterborough Health Coalition and the local community to fight the cuts.

For more see: Hospital cuts 'too deep,' CUPE local president says - Peterborough Examiner - Ontario, CA

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