OCHU And CUPE Want Province To Better Fund Hospitals

By: Nick Liard

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions is putting pressure on the provincial government to add an additional two per cent in hospital funding on top of what was allocated in the recent budget.

President of OCHU and CUPE Michael Hurley says 2017 funding will be 13 per cent less than in 2016.

Hurley says the recent provincial budget showed a three percent increase in funding but real costs are rising by 5.3 per cent.

Local CUPE President Dave Shelefontiuk says it’s having a real effect on front line staff.

Rallies are being held across the province with one scheduled for Sudbury on June 8th.

Hurley says they are expecting to bus in thousands of people from all over the province.