Sudbury hospital workers protest bed closures

CUPE Local 1623 members protested Monday to demand the North East LHIN consult citizens in northeastern Ontario before it closes 130 hospital beds at the Memorial site of Sudbury Regional Hospital in March.

About 190 hospital jobs are at stake, but Dave Shelefontiuk, CUPE Local 1623 president, noted that he is more worried about how the elderly will be taken care of in the future. Shelefontiuk called on the North East Local Health Integration Network to live up to the word "local" in its name and hold a public forum to discuss the closure of transitional beds.

When contacted about the protest by the Sudbury Star, the LHIN replied via email, re-issuing a statement the LHIN made Nov. 24.

Shelefontiuk adds of the rally: "It was freezing, with the wind chill it was minus 30. But there was some workers from Memorial site there. We are now planning a public forum."

dallan@cupe.ca

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