Hospital Job Cuts Spark Burnout Crisis: 62 Positions Eliminated at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Healthcare Workers Rally Against Job Cuts Amid Burnout Concerns

Hospital workers, labor leaders, and community members braved freezing temperatures of -10°C to protest outside St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's Charlton campus, voicing concerns about 62 job cuts and the potential for increased burnout among remaining staff.

Richard Rigby, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 786, represents around 2,000 workers at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. At a Jan. 22 protest outside the hospital network's Charlton Campus, he called for more public funding for healthcare. (Justin Chandler/CBC)

The Impact of Job Elimination

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is cutting 62 positions, including 24 vacant roles and 38 active jobs. Union leader Richard Rigby, president of CUPE Local 786, warned that these cuts will increase workloads for already exhausted staff.

"Just because jobs are eliminated, the work does not disappear," Rigby stated at the protest. "The work just gets absorbed by other, already burnt out members here at St. Joe's. This takes invaluable time away from these workers caring for your family and friends."

CUPE Local 786 represents over 2,000 workers across multiple sites, including registered practical nurses, personal support workers, occupational therapists, housekeeping staff, administrative personnel, and maintenance workers.

Financial Pressures and Provincial Underfunding

The job cuts and a postponed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) expansion from 17 to 21 beds are attributed to a $25-million deficit on the hospital's $800-million budget. The union points to provincial underfunding as the root cause.

Rigby criticized the provincial government for "creating the narrative that public healthcare does not work" while supporting private healthcare alternatives. "The system is broken because it's not funded properly," he emphasized.

Workers at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and their supporters rally outside the hospital after the network announced it will cut 62 jobs. (Justin Chandler/CBC)

Government Response and Hospital Statement

Ontario's Ministry of Health has tasked hospitals with deficits to develop three-year plans to balance budgets, assuming annual funding increases of 2%—half of recent increases. The Ontario Hospital Association has stated that hospitals need an additional $1 billion to keep pace with population growth and inflation.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones' spokesperson, Ema Popovic, countered that the government is investing a historic $91.5 billion in healthcare, including a 4% increase in hospital funding for a third consecutive year. She noted that St. Joe's received funding for the NICU expansion but was unable to open the beds, leading to reallocation to another hospital.

St. Joseph's spokesperson Lauren Stasila explained that the hospital is facing budgetary pressures and has identified $9.1 million in savings through reduced energy use, administrative cuts, and care delivery changes. She assured that these measures "will not reduce access to services or impact our ability to deliver exceptional care."

Union Concerns and Community Impact

Kevin Cook, vice president of CUPE's Ontario Hospital Council of Unions, warned that underfunding will result in longer wait times and more patients being treated in hallways. "Hamilton deserves better. Patients deserve better," he declared.

Jillian Watt, president of CUPE 7800 representing Hamilton Health Sciences staff, echoed these concerns: "We're already stretched thin. We've already seen hallways full, surgeries delayed, and staff leave because they're exhausted and unsupported. Cutting jobs is reckless and shortsighted."

St. Joe's anticipates that many affected staff will transition to other positions within the hospital or be offered early retirement options, while also pursuing $2.3 million in new revenue-generating initiatives.