Speech delivered by Sharleen Stewart

June 2006

Good morning, my name is Sharleen Stewart, and welcome each and every one of you to SEIU Local 1's Hospital Bargaining conference.

I am so proud to represent you as the President of SEIU Local 1. It is a great honour to me.

I am particularly proud of this conference, and your efforts, because I know the challenges of working in the hospital setting. I worked in a hospital. You don't forget the lessons of working in a hospital quickly. They are all fresh in my mind. That is why I say I am so proud -- and excited -- about representing members who are just like I was not so long ago.

But - to be honest - since I was working in the health care system in my home province of Saskatchewan, I couldn't have imagined the new challenges that threaten our workers, their families and our communities. And that goes for all across Canada, but most particularly in Ontario in the last couple of years.

Let me tell you this straight. I am fighting mad at the current provincial government. I had hoped they would be better than the Tories.

But, now I am tired of the Liberals broken promises -- their about turns -- their horrible planning - their dishonest answers.

Again and again, the premier and his health minister both say one thing and do another. They are expert at: Say one thing: Do another.

They said they were going to restore the health care system in Ontario, right.

Dalton McGuinty said during the last election: "Privatization takes us backwards…." "We must strengthen our public health care system, not give up on it. To MODERNIZE, not privatize Medicare."

I don't really think he knows the difference. Or worse, he doesn't think we do.

Well he is wrong, and I'll tell why.

A few weeks ago I was at a P3s Rally at Queens Park in the pouring rain with a few hundred of our brothers and sisters in the Toronto area.

I said to the crowd - loud enough for McGuinty and George Smitherman to hear -- that SEIU has its eye on the next provincial election and that in November 2007 they were going to feel our outrage.

I will make a pledge to all those dedicated, soaken brothers and sisters and to all of you here that we won't let the Liberals get away with their 'Say One Thing: Do Another' policy anymore.

We all know, it has been proven, P3s, two-tiered health care, privatization - or Liberal-style "modernization" - whatever McGuinty wants to call it - cost taxpayers - and workers - MORE. Much more.

A private hospital now being built in Brampton may cost Ontario taxpayer $175 million more than if the hospital had been built with public money.

What is the benefit in that? What is the public good?

There is only a benefit for a cost-cutting government and some friendly for-profit contractors.

Why should we pay private companies to make a profit on hospital services that rightfully belong to all of us?

What enrages me all the more is that the provincial government wants to remove "no contracting out" clauses in union contracts.

If hospital services, such as housekeeping, dietary and laundry are contracted out, the only people who will be earning above the poverty line will be the contractors. They will contract services for $17 or $18 per hour -- the government may save a buck or two -- and the workers will be paid about $9.00 per hour.

This government's misguided policies are - at best -- penny-wise and pound foolish.

Here is a case in point: the experience in United Kingdom with privatized housekeeping services has resulted in dirtier hospitals.

These are unacceptable - but predictable - results of privatization. It has been proven time and again.

I think the most serious threat facing us today in Ontario is this government.

More than ever, we in the labour movement must stick together to fight the real enemy - government dishonesty.

To combat this, SEIU has joined forces with OPSEU, ONA and CUPE - all of us and our 200,000 members working together bound in a common campaign.

I'm talking about the LHINs.

The government says its so called health care transformation is about improving care. What it really is about is cutting costs, saving money on the wages and benefits of workers, and on reducing the quality of care.

"Say one thing: Do Another"

But the four unions are saying to the government that the cost is too high for communities.

What's more, LHINs will have government appointed boards that can - and will -- merge and transfer services anywhere within each vast LHIN regions.

Just look at what is happening right here in the Niagara Region: Dietary jobs are centralizing in Welland from St.Catharines.

What would happen if there was a snow storm? Would that mean no food for needy patients? Are patients going to be fed out of the vending machines?

Today we are going to have a rally to support our Niagara Region brothers and sisters.

We are going to march today to demonstrate our fight against the centralization and privatization of our health care system everywhere in the province.

You should also realize, if you don't already know, that the LHINs legislation has swung the door wide open to competitive bidding - where hospitals that bid the lowest will get funding from the LHIN to provide specific services.

Is that improving health care in the province?

Say one thing: do another.

Believe me; many home care members in our Local have experienced the devastating effects that competitive bidding has had on their jobs.

In some cases, members have to re apply for their jobs every couple of years, with no guarantees of being re-hired, equivalent benefits, pension, or seniority.

We simply cannot allow this to happen, and that is why the four big unions are sticking together to fight this government.

So, I will be reporting back to you on the results of our joint offensive to ensure that the government doesn't:

1. Cut access to local health care services
2. Threaten the jobs of thousands of our health care workers
3. Reduce local control of community health care
4. or Allow private for profit corporations to replace not-for-profit health care

But we are not stopping there. The four unions have a strategy committee targeting the municipal elections.

After all, health care is local, should be local, and that is why we have to take our message to city, regional, county, and township councils.

We are seeking municipal politicians support, and we will support them in return.

So ask your municipal candidates in the upcoming November election, what is he or she doing to ensure that local people have access to excellent local health care.

And, I would like to conclude by underlining SEIU's dedication and determination to grow through Organizing. Only with greater numbers will be able to gain greater strength. Only through energetic, pro-active Organizing campaigns can we really make a difference in people's lives and the lives of their families.

And that is what our mission is: to help improve workers' lives and lives of their families. We are Stronger Together.

Thank you for being here, and I look forward to getting the chance to chat with some you over the course of the conference.

Thank you.