Union forecast imprecise, hospital association says

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

************************* Statement by the Ontario Hospital Association regarding hospital funding and jobs

TORONTO - (January 12) - This morning, representatives from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario Public Sector Employees' Union (OPSEU), the Canadian Autoworkers (CAW), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) held a new conference at Queen's Park to discuss potential job losses and downsizing in Ontario's hospital sector.

During the news conference, it was suggested that the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) had informed this group that an estimated 5,000 full time jobs could be lost at currently planned funding levels.

The OHA has specifically chosen to not communicate publicly about specific potential funding or job loss scenarios because such forecasting is imprecise.

We believe that the most responsible course of action at this time is for hospitals, local health integration networks, employee groups and the Government of Ontario to work together to minimize the potential impact of the global financial crisis on Ontario's patients and health care professionals.

Our organization continues to work in that regard.

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Unions predict 5,000 health-care jobs cut province-wide Union forecast imprecise, hospital association responds