Published by The Welland Tribute
January 13, 2010
Written by Allan Benner
URL: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2257843

There's more at stake than a new contract for Niagara hospital support workers represented by SEIU.

A few dozen health-care workers represented Service Employees International Union Local 1.on gathered Tuesday for a rally in front of the health system's administration offices on Ontario St., St. Catharines, concerned about stalled contract negotiations with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

They were joined by others from throughout Niagara, who shared their concerns about what hospital cuts will mean to the delivery of local health-care services.

Marianne Carlson, a registered practical nurse working at Port Colborne hospital, said she was there for more than her union ties.

She's also a Port Colborne resident.

"I have a vested interest in my hospital," she said.

"We're talking about the future of our hospitals and the safety and well-being of our patients, and the ability for the nursing staff to provide quality care in an environment that doesn't support it at the present."

Considering the problems she sees daily within the walls of the hospitals, she said the community has reason to be concerned.

She cited inadequate staffing levels and patients who are admitted to inappropriate hospital wards — such as psychiatric patients being placed in chronic care wards.

Meanwhile, there's a lack of community supports to safely discharge patients. Despite new investment in home care services through Community Care Access Centres, she said "it's not enough."

"When we have 46 patients sitting in our emergencies across the board waiting for admission to hospital beds and there aren't any, and we're closing beds — we have a problem," Carlson said. "Where are we going to put these people?"

The situation is more pronounced in Welland, said Allan Fischer, who works at Welland hospital.

Fischer recalled a line of ambulances waiting to unload patients last week, while other patients in the hospital were being placed on stretchers in the hallways.

"They're being placed on stretchers on the floors now, not just in emerg — on the floors," he said.

Fort Erie resident Sue Salzer, who has been a vocal critic of changes being made to the Fort Erie hospital, made the trip to St. Catharines to support SEIU workers.

After all, she said, they're ultimately fighting for the same thing.

"We are fighting strongly on behalf of all supporters of health care," she said. "If these fine people are fighting the NHS, we're fighting with them."

Welland MP Malcolm Allen said he joined the protest to add his support to the SEIU members' efforts to get a new contract with the OHA, and avoid the need for arbitration.

"Arbitrations are never satisfactory to either party, even when you win you never feel like you've won," he said.

But he was also there in response to the concerns of south Niagara residents and about the future of hospital services in their communities.

"There's no doubt that what we're seeing when it comes to the restructuring of the NHS, there are alternative proposals that have come from all corners including from the health-care professionals that are working inside the hospitals," he said, adding some of those professionals were on the picket line.

"I think they should be heard. These are front-line workers with real solutions to the problems we face," Allen said. "It's encumbent on those hospital administrators to listen to those creative solutions. And kudos to SEIU for having those creative solutions."

Welland resident Daniel Peat joined Allen at the protest.

"There's probably among the public in general in Niagara, a feeling that the NHS isn't listening — particularly in south Niagara," Peat said.

"I think this could be an opportunity for the hospital to respond to the SEIU members who work throughout the region on the front lines — to take their input seriously and take it to the OHA so the bargaining can continue."