SEIU - Local 1 Canada
The Local Health Integration Act (Bill 36) will radically alter the way
Ontario's citizens will access health care services.
This Act will also drastically alter the lives of all health care workers,
particularly health care workers who provide "non-clinical health care
services."
SEIU Local 1.on represents mainly Registered Practical Nurses and non
clinical service staff, such as dietary, housekeeping and clerical, in the
health care sector.
The legislation does not clearly define "non-clinical services." Section
33(1) of Bill 36 allows for a very broad definition of "non-clinical services.
It will allow the government to cease performing any prescribed non clinical
service and to integrate the service by-transferring it to a prescribed person
or entity.
The legislation is clear in its intent and purpose. Non-clinical health care
services will be put on the auction block.
This will have a devastating impact on both health care consumers and health
care workers alike.
- Health care workers. The average "non clinical health care worker earns less
than $36,000 per year.
Already they pay $450.00 per year in the new Health Tax. In essence they are
subsidizing their own wages.
If contracting out of non-clinical services is allowed, and clearly this
legislation will allow it, workers such as dietary and housekeeping will be
contracted out to for profit companies such as Aramark, Sodexho and Morrison
Compass.
The British Columbia health privatization scheme a few years ago resulted in
"non clinical health care providers" having had their wages slashed nearly in
half. They lost their pensions and their benefits.
SEIU Local 1.on believes the Ontario government's intention is to balance the
provincial budget on the backs of the most vulnerable health care workers.
Health Minister Smitherman has described these workers as low hanging fruit.
I want to point out that what workers do not earn they can not spend in their
communities. In smaller communities, health care is the foundation of the local
economy. If health care workers are forced into poverty wages, as home care
workers were when their jobs were subjected to competitive bidding, local
businesses too will suffer, because what health care workers do not earn they
cannot spend.
- Health care consumers. They too pay McGuinty's new Health Tax - as much as
$900 per year.
Since being elected, this government has already delisted chiropractic
services. (OHIP used to pay $11.65 for the first visit, $9.65 for additional
visits to a maximum of $150.00 per year.)
Physiotherapy services at approved provincial clinics - delisted. (OHIP
previously funded up to $500 per year).
Optometry services (eye examinations) were delisted for every one between the
ages of 20 - 64.
Will other services be delisted or will the government now use privatization
to achieve its cost cutting health care strategies?
We are witnessing the transfer of massive public tax dollars to for profit
corporations both as P3 initiatives expand and health services are put up for
auction.
Bill 36 will force Ontario tax payers to pay for every service not subject to
the Canada Health Act. User fees violate the very principles of the Canada
Health Act. They amount to nothing more than double taxation. The lowest income
groups pay a larger share. User fees are a barrier to health care access.
Bill 36 will allow hospitals to create more for private clinics within
themselves such as physiotherapy clinics.
The development of private stand alone health clinics will accelerate the
rush to a two tier health care system.
As food services, housekeeping and clerical services are privatized, private
for profit companies supplying these services to the health care sector will
also be able to charge user fees. In effect health care ancillary services
charged to the user will turn our public health care institutions into nothing
more than hotels.
Need a tooth brush - Pay for it
Need clean linen - Pay for it
Need a
meal - Pay for it
Need to drive 500 Km for treatment - Pay for it
Health care workers and Ontario citizens alike can no longer afford or trust
this government with their pubic health care dollars.
Service Employees International Union Local1.on is a 40,000 member province
wide local union serving health care and community support workers.