OCHU, SEIU and Ontario opposition leaders urge Premier to recall Legislature to deal with health staffing crisis, beginning with scrapping wage cuts under Bill 124
OCHU president Michael Hurley and Sharleen Stewart president of SEIU Healthcare were joined by the three leaders of the opposition (NDP, Liberal, and Green) for a media conference on Thursday, January 6, 2022, to call on Premier Doug Ford’s Ontario government to immediately recall the legislature for an emergency session to confront the harsh reality of the province’s health staffing crisis starting with the urgent repeal of Bill 124.
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Mandatory vaccination policies and the law
This guide sets out the law concerning mandatory vaccination policies and includes the OCHU and CUPE vaccination policies and Directive 6.
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N95 masks are now required in many situations
Learn more about when the employer must provide you with an N95.
Read MoreEmergency Measures Needed to Address the Health Care Staffing Crisis
Ontario’s hospitals, long-term care (LTC) and home care services face critical and growing staffing crises. Our province’s health care system is not on the brink of crisis, it is in crisis. It is not an overstatement...
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Newsletter – January 6
Directive 5 | CUPE, SEIU, Opposition parties call for end to wage restraint
Read MoreDoug Ford’s new long-term-care legislation, Bill 37, tolls for all of us
The bill lays bare Ford’s ongoing agenda, and smooths the way for billions of public dollars to be funnelled to for-profit LTC for another generation.
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Hospital plans to keep staff exposed to COVID working while awaiting test results are dangerous for patients
Warnings from Ontario’s health care front-lines of staff shortages and inadequate personal protective equipment to deal with airborne infection went unheeded for nearly 20 months by the provincial government. “Now the staffing crisis is so severe at some hospitals that they require staff directly exposed to COVID to work while awaiting test results, to keep ERs and beds open. This is a dangerous practice which puts at risk patients, particularly those with compromised immune systems and other staff,” says Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE).
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OCHU-CUPE & SEIU call on government to ramp up protections for HCWs in the face of Omicron
Dear Dr. Moore,
We write to you on behalf of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU)/CUPE and the Service Employees International Union- Healthcare (SEIU). Together we represent over 100,000 staff working in hospitals, long term care and homecare in Ontario.
Save the date – Emergency Privatization Summit 2
Wednesday, January 12 at 7 PM via Zoom ** More information to come
A follow up emergency summit on health care privatization to develop an action plan for Ontarians who want to safeguard and improve our public health care for people not for profit.
Ontario government’s erratic, ad hoc approach to the health workforce will mean a shortage of more than 50,000 nurses and personal support workers
With health care job vacancies skyrocketing, new long-term care beds and a provincial government fond of “Band-Aid” health workforce approaches, Ontarians will see unprecedented health care staff shortages of more than 50,000 workers over the next few years.
Read MoreFord Government’s Response on Long-Term Care is a Travesty
The so-called “new” long-term care legislation introduced by the Ford government is scheduled for third and final reading in the legislature today and it will be passed by the Conservative majority likely today or tomorrow. The bill, which is really just a series of amendments to the existing Long-Term Care Homes Act (2007), has been rushed through in advance of the provincial election in order to make the appearance of doing something, without crossing the vital interests of the for-profit long-term care industry, and without committing the funds and political will to the changes that are actually needed.
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Award recipients
CUPE Local 786 at St. Joseph’s Hospital wins Best Digital Campaign award at CUPE National Convention
Diane Dalcourt named PSW of the Year
CUPE Local 815 member named Health & Safety Rep of the Year
Hamilton hospital plumber/steamfitter wins province-wide skilled trades award
Montfort clerical wins province-wide recognition award