A well being care union is warning of potential in depth job cuts at Hamilton Well being Sciences (HHS) hospitals and different amenities.
The Canadian Union of Public Workers (CUPE) says the provincial authorities is leaving HHS to cope with an enormous deficit, and that might imply job losses.
HHS says it’s the largest employer within the area, with 18,000 employees members, medical doctors, researchers and volunteers throughout a variety of amenities.
However, the union says HHS is going through a projected deficit of $112 million this yr, and a staffing overview has been launched to search for price financial savings.
President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, Michael Hurley, says the pressures going through the trade are dangerous sufficient earlier than cuts.
“On the one hand, you’ve got this enormous pressure, back log of services, people on waiting lists, waiting for care, on stretchers waiting for admission to beds because we don’t have enough staff,” he mentioned.
The Ministry of Well being responded to the considerations raised by CUPE, saying “Hamilton Health Sciences has not communicated to CUPE staff or any other staff at the hospital that there will be layoffs.”
It says the federal government is “investing over $85 billion this year alone” within the well being care system, and it’s guaranteeing “all of our hospitals have the tools they need to continue delivering high-quality care.”
Regardless, the union is looking on the federal government to offer assurances that it’s going to pay the HHS deficit in full.
READ MORE: Mohawk Faculty layoffs to offset subsequent yr’s $50M deficit