Healthcare workers took to the streets in front of Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Tuesday to make a statement about the need for wage increases and better working conditions.
Bill 124, which was implemented under the Ford government and capped wage increases at one percent for a three-year period, was found to be unconstitutional late last year.
It opened the door for hospitals to negotiate the rates their staff are paid.
Doug Cook, a union representative for SEIU Healthcare that negotiates on behalf of its workers, says between November when Bill 124 was scrapped until now, the hospital had been silent on the matter.
The union created a petition that has been sent to the CEO of Cambridge Memorial Hospital and has participated in town halls, but it wasn’t until the union came forward through those avenues that negotiations began, Cook says.
“The bill was found to be unconstitutional in November but the hospital had been silent until April 14 when we had our first meeting,” Cook said.
“Members are telling us point blank through the town hall and the petition they don't feel respected. It’s acute now coming out of COVID. I think healthcare was hanging on by a shoestring prior to COVID and then with all the demands of the pandemic it really brought out the weakness in the foundation.”
According to February statistics from Health Quality Ontario, CMH ranks fourth worst of 121 hospitals in the province for the average wait time for a first assessment in the emergency department. It's average 3.4 hour wait time is 189 per cent above the provincial average of 1.8 hours.
While Cook did not say exactly what the union is looking for as far as a competitive wage, citing a need for an increase both locally and provincially, he says that workers at CMH are not paid equivalent to their regional counterparts.
Regardless, the burden of being short staffed due to resignations and staff burnout is falling on the remaining workers. An issue that can't go unresolved much longer, the union says
“Workers here are underpaid compared to other hospitals,” Cook said.
“The industry is quite short paid generally speaking but within that context Cambridge Memorial is even lower paid within the region. We're talking a stand on that.”
As for how the negotiations are going, Cook says there’s some interest at the table for a settlement but a gap still needs to be closed.
“Doug Ford hit us hard with Bill 124,” Cook said.
“It comes back to the hospitals to do the right thing. We’re at the table right now, we were at the table with them yesterday. This protest continues that momentum forward.”
When reached for comment, Cambridge Memorial Hospital provided a statement saying they continue to be active participants in ongoing negotiations.
"Hospital and SEIU negotiations committees continue to meet to discuss local adjustments to wage rates at Cambridge Memorial Hospital," the statement said.
"Goodwill has been demonstrated from both sides. CMH and the Ontario Hospital Association of which the hospital is part of, does not endorse Bill 124. As for today’s information picket, the hospital supports union members’ right to protest against Bill 124, knowing that it will be done peacefully while not impeding access to the hospital."
Cook wants the community to understand that the workers within the hospital are doing what they can to maintain a high level of patient care and that their professionalism can make them easy targets.
“Health care workers are absolutely fantastic and I guess that’s why they’re a group that can easily be exploited,” he said.
“Their care and concern for patients in incredible. Patient care continues but it’s at the expense of individuals going the extra mile.”
