Hiring freeze will exacerbate Ontario health care crisis

TORONTO, June 18, 2018 /CNW/ - A blunt public sector hiring freeze announced today by Premier-designate Ford could cause long-term damage to Ontarians and workers who rely on public health care services. 

"Today's sudden announcement of a public sector hiring freeze shows that Ford plans to govern with the same approach that he campaigned with, to act first and figure out the details later," said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. "The Unifor members and all public servants who rely on this government to ensure safe and healthy workplaces deserve better."

The newly elected premier announced a hiring freeze on all public servants with an exception for "essential front-line services staff" in jails, policing, fire and developmental services, and ordered the cancellation of any expense "that can be placed in hold without putting government service delivery or the public at risk."

Hospitals across Ontario are already over-capacity and under-staffed. Of the 163,000 workers that Unifor represents in Ontario, 25,000 are health care workers who work at hospitals, in ambulance services and at long-term care facilities, and whose workplaces may be affected by this heavy-handed policy. 

"Adding additional pressure to Ontario's already-stretched health care system and public services is a dangerous move that puts the well-being of all Ontarians at risk," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "Ford is about to find out that he can't order a freeze on people falling ill or requiring care. We need investment and certainty, not austerity and risk."

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor