Ontario

Council of Hospital Unions

May 2011

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Issue #, Date

Hospital staff demonstrate at a Ministry of Health event in Stratford, April 28. The Ministry has put Jim Easton, a man charged with cutting $30 billion from Britains healthcare system, on a speaking tour of Ontario healthcare events. Hospital workers fiercely reject Eastons notion that billions of dollars can be cut from our healthcare system, while maintaining quality. CUPE Researcher Doug Allan, above.

15-community tour of northern Ontario in fight against superbugs

4,000 Ontario hospital patients die each year from hospital acquired infections
OCHU vice-presidents Louis Rodrigues, Marc Lafrance and Sharon Richer are on a 15- community tour of northern Ontario, talking with the public and the media about hospital acquired infections( HAIs ) and CUPEs strategies to drive down the death rates. HAIs are the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. CUPE is promoting these solutions to the problem of hospital acquired infections: hire more cleaners; ban the contracting out of cleaning; force hospitals to report HAI deaths; reduce bed occupancy from over 100% to 85% or lower; reconfigure patient rooms so that patients do not share rooms or bathrooms Above from left: Marc Lafrance, OCHU Francophone VP. Maria Smith, president of local 3272 at Richards Landing; and northern Ontario OCHU VP, Sharon Richer. In August, the portable hospital room ( which is built as a theatre set ) travels to 10 communities in southern Ontario.

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Top left: Sudbury activist Roger ate Issue #, D Richer on Canada AM with portable hospital room in campaign against hospital acquired infections. Mid- left: Mattawa activist Shawn Armaly. Bottom left: Huron Perth local president Lori Stewart. Top right: Lakeridge Health activist Joanne Love, Markham Uxbridge leader Lori Bolle, Lakeridges Muriel Simms and Kenora activist Larry Somers at April 29 demo against contracting out of Toronto garbage collection. Mid right: Guelph leader Bonnie Weckworth; and bottom left, Hamilton activist Miriam Lockhart, receive certificates from HOOPP CEO John Crocker on their retirements.

Regional RPN Conferences 6 regional conferences for Registered Practical Nurses have been held in the lead-up to Nursing Week ( May 9-15 ). The conferences looked at the history of wage bargaining for RPNs. Scope of practice and utilization were also discussed. OCHU has produced a video on RPNs for Nursing Week and provided that to all locals. In addition, special materials for RPNs and PSWs were produced with the assistance of the Hospital Employees Union, which provided the artwork, and also with the assistance of organizing department of CUPE. 2

Food Campaigns continue The campaign against contracted out food continues this summer, as OCHU and the National Farmers Union present certificates to the hospitals and long-term care facilities that make their own food. The campaign against the contracting out of Kingstons food service continues with a summer film festival and a food-service- themed Labour Day. Newsletter workshop Anyone can produce a newsletter like this one. OCHU is conducting a newsletter workshop in Ottawa at the CUPE National office, June 7 and 8. Register: 416-599-0770.

Teleconference Educational The first in a series of teleconference educationals takes place June 20 at 7 p.m. ( EST ). The subject of the call is the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act. Lawyer Ethan Poskanzer (Sack,Goldblatt, Mitchell ), will lead the call. The series continues on the 3rd Monday of each month, except July, August and December. A flyer has been mailed to all local unions.
CUPE Quebec demonstrates for doubling of CPP May 12. OCHU and Quebecs CUPE hospital wing have agreed to an accord of cooperation.