Dear Fellow Member of Local 79 Working at Bridgepoint Hospital:

I recently sent a letter to Marion Walsh, expressing concerns that Bridgepoint Hospital continues to hire management and supervisory personnel, as well as create and fill new management positions that do not provide the delivery of front line services, while our members are being laid off and Local 79 jobs are being deleted. I strongly recommended that her efforts to trim hospital spending should not be focused on the front line workers who provide direct patient care, but on the excessive numbers of management and supervisory positions. Additionally, I expressed Local 79’s extreme disappointment that our members representing us on the Fiscal Advisory Committee are not privy to relevant, comprehensive financial information regarding the Hospital Operating Plan.

On Saturday April 9, 2011, a large number of Local 79 members participated in the “Rally for Respect” organized by Labour, student and community groups. The media reported up to 10,000 people were there demanding that Mayor Ford stop cutting social programs and public services, slashing public transit, selling off public housing, privatizing garbage collection, and raising recreation user fees. The event was a success and I thank all Local 79 members who came to defend our communities, public services and good jobs!

Following the Conservatives losing a vote of confidence in the House of Commons, a Federal election was called and will take place May 2, 2011. Local 79 is urging all of our members to ask the candidates in your riding where they stand on issues including: public services; health care; and pensions.

The Health Accord, which contains the vital funding agreement for public health care across Canada, is scheduled for renewal in 2014. Whoever forms the next federal government will begin negotiations next year with the provinces and territories. The safeguarding of public health care for Canadians, by protecting the funding agreement in the Health Accord, should be a major priority. The Harper government has failed to protect patients from two‐tier health care, user fees and extra‐billing introduced by private, for‐profit clinics and hospitals. Canadians deeply value our public health care system and do not want their access to medical services and health care determined by their ability to pay.

The upcoming election offers an excellent opportunity to choose a federal government that will stand up for Canadian workers and their families, safeguard and improve public Medicare, and, address the plight of the jobless, the poor, and pensioners!

April 28 is the National Day of Mourning, when we pause and remember all workers who have been injured, made sick, or killed on the job. It is also a time when we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that all workers have safe, healthy workplaces. The 2011 service will be held at 12 noon at Larry Sefton Park, Bay and Hagerman Street (behind Toronto City Hall).

Canada’s National Nursing Week for 2011 is May 9th – May 15th. This year’s theme is “Nursing – The Health of Our Nation”. Nursing Week provides Local 79 with the opportunity to honour the caring and dedication of our members who work as nurses in Bridgepoint Hospital, Public Health, Long-term Care Homes and Services, Shelter Programs and elsewhere. Members are invited to nominate their Local 79 colleagues working in the nursing field for one of five peer recognition awards, which recognize their contribution to Local 79’s mission statement of solidarity and collegiality. Nominations should be forwarded by Friday April 29th. to the Local 79 office by mail (34 St. Patrick Street, Toronto M5T 1V1), by fax (416-977-9546) or by e-mail to local79@cupelocal79.org.

I am delighted to announce that the first group of Local 79 members who participated in the Literacy Programme at Bridgepoint Hospital, graduated on April 18th. Local 79 has a strong commitment to supporting and pursuing learning opportunities for our members. In cooperation with the Ontario Literacy Coalition, Bridgepoint Hospital and Local 79 continue working jointly on the delivery of literacy training for Local 79 members working at Bridgepoint Hospital. This is an excellent opportunity for Local 79 members to receive additional training. Literacy is about many different learning skills; communication, hands on skills, computers, customer service, to name a few. Congratulations to our 40 members who successfully completed the programme!

Applications for the 2011 Alex Gregory Memorial Scholarship will be accepted for students who are in their final year of secondary school in Ontario, and are registered in a post-secondary institution this fall. Five scholarships for $500 each will be awarded to children of current or retired members. Please apply for an application in writing to the Education Committee, c/o the Local 79 office. Please include your name, address, home and work telephone numbers, division, and employee number.

Attention all Local 79 golfers! Local 79’s 2nd Annual Golf Tournament will take place on September 21st at Deer Creek Golf Club, 2700 Audley Road North, Ajax. Please mark this date in your calendar! For additional information, please contact Ainsworth Hamilton at equityvp@cupelocal79.org or call (416) 977-1629 ext. 245.

In solidarity,

Ann Dembinski
President