Group Health Centre workers could be headed to the picket line July 26 now that the majority of its unionized members have voted in favour of a strike.
According to a Friday news release from CUPE Local 894, GHC healthcare workers committed this action “as a last resort” since their employer “refuses to offer them a real wage increase.”
“We had hoped to reach an equitable agreement at the bargaining table with our employer, but unfortunately we’ve been offered subpar wages that we just can’t accept,” CUPE Local 894 president Tracy Fabbricino said in Friday’s release.
“Members of Local 894 are overworked, stressed, and burned out. Our workloads have increased but our pay hasn’t. Something has to change, and it has to change now.”
In response to the union’s announcement, GHC officials published their own news release to reassure patients that they have a plan in place to continue providing healthcare services in the wake of a strike.
“We are disappointed to be in this situation, and frustrated for our patients whose access to primary care may once again be impacted,” the release read.
“We remain committed to working towards a resolution and are scheduled to be back at the bargaining table for mediation on Thursday, July 25.”
GHC officials also stated that the most recent collective agreement sent to CUPE included a 9.5 per cent wage increase over a three-year period, which they view as being perfectly “in line with the sector across the province.”
“Over the past several years, the parties (GHC and CUPE) have negotiated and ratified several collective agreements. The most recent agreement included a 3.75 per cent increase in 2023, as well as a financial signing bonus for members,” the release read.
“We remain committed to reaching a resolution at the negotiation table so that we can continue to focus on our priority to deliver care to our community.”
CUPE Local 894 represents over 220 healthcare workers and clerical support staff, which includes registered practical nurses, social workers and physiotherapists.
These workers facilitate a variety of essential healthcare services for the Sault Ste. Marie area, such as ophthalmology, ultrasounds, x-rays, cardiac rehab, obstetrics and same day appointments for patients who have a family doctor.
However, over the last two years, GHC has derostered over 10,000 patients due to ongoing recruitment and retention issues, which inevitably makes the job of these workers more difficult.
“These front-line workers desperately need an equitable wage increase that reflects the cost of living and high inflation rates to battle the recruitment and retention issues the Group Health Centre continues to face,” Friday’s statement from the union reads.
GHC officially derostered 10,000 patients on May 31, but immediately set up a new outpatient clinic on 170 East Street to accommodate these residents who no longer have access to primary care.
This Access Care Clinic is being run by nurse practitioners, who are providing urgent care, episodic care, chronic disease symptom management and prescription maintenance.
The new clinic will also facilitate ongoing referrals and ensure uninterrupted access to GHC’s programs and services.
