President Sharleen Stewart's Speech to OFL Rally
November 27, 2004
Yesterday thousands of hospital clerical and service workers across Ontario staged information pickets in front of their hospitals. From as far away as Kapuskasing and as close to here as the hospital corridor just south of where you stand, they walked.
Why?
Because Dalton McGuinty broke his promise. During the election he was against the privatization of health care, but just a few short months after he took the oath of office, he continued with the building of private hospitals in Brampton and Ottawa.
Ontario Minister of Health George Smitherman is threatening to eliminate thousands of hospital support and clerical jobs.
The government appointed the Hay Group to conduct a study and in September it reported the government could save $200 million by contracting out housekeeping services and amalgamating clerical functions.
To accomplish this, the Liberal government is considering legislation that will gut union contracts "no contracting out" clauses.
Never mind that infection controls will be compromised and patients' health put at risk, it's a small worry compared to how easily a government might balance the budget on the backs of people who earn on average $35,000 per year. These people won't squawk.
Think again Dalton . You and George have just unleashed the furies of hell. Hospital workers are mad, angry and we're not going away. Ever.
Say one thing. Do another.
In May, George Smitherman, the health minister announced that nursing homes would get an additional $191 million. By October this money had dwindled to only $116 million and still not out the door.
He promised 600 more nurses and 1200 more direct care jobs to care for nursing home patients. Six months after the announcement there has not been a single new direct care position created.
Say one thing. Do another.
We were to have new nursing home legislation introduced this fall. That's what Liberals promised in the spring. Now they say they can't get around to it till next spring.
It gets better. Dalton McGuinty promised to restore a daily standard of care hours nursing home residents would be entitled to - before the last election.
Now furious George says there will be no standard at all. They promised three baths per week for each nursing home resident. Now it will be only two.
Say One Thing. Do another.
In home care the Liberals promised to review the "managed competition model" where by for profit home care providers since Mike Harris have made millions off our health care dollars But patients get less care. And then Dalton gave us Elinor Caplan who thinks the bidding for home care services is just fine.
Say one thing. Do another.
For all the women who work in supportive housing and women's shelters. They were promised a three percent budget increase for their institutions, some of that money was to go to improve wages, but guess what. The Liberals won't make these institutions' board of directors pass on the budget increase to their staff. As a result we have women on strike at these institutions who should not be. All because Liberals say one thing and do another.
You know what these guys are really good at? Yeah right! They're really good at making promises. They have the patent on it.
But you know what? They aren't very good promise keepers.
This government is beginning to sound like a Seinfeld episode.
It's not about making the promise. It's about keeping the promise.
This government is all about nothing. We've had nothing in this province long enough.
Its time for action. Its time for people power. And above all its time for UNION POWER.
Thank you very much!