Shocking Layoffs at Perley Health: Over 50 Jobs Cut Including Nurses and PSWs

Perley Health Announces Major Staff Reductions

Perley Health, one of Ontario's largest long-term care homes, is set to eliminate more than 50 positions, including 38 unionized and 13 non-union jobs. The cuts include 18 registered practical nurses (RPNs) and 14 personal support workers (PSWs), raising serious concerns about resident care quality.

Union Protests and Resident Impact

Dozens of CUPE union members held a rally outside Perley Health this week, protesting the layoffs and calling for increased healthcare funding. Union representatives warn that these cuts will directly impact resident care by increasing workloads, reducing direct care time, and contributing to staff burnout.

"How can this government talk about 'fixing' long-term care while the Perley eliminates 38 vital positions?" said local union president and PSW Patty Lowe. "Do they have any idea how much suffering the residents will have to bear due to these cuts?"

Staffing Concerns and Workplace Violence

A recent survey revealed that 69% of Perley Health workers don't believe their units are staffed well enough to provide quality resident care. Additionally, 17% of workers reported facing physical violence daily, with 16% experiencing violence at least weekly—issues often linked to inadequate staffing levels.

Management's Response

Perley Health spokesperson Jay Innes stated that the organization isn't facing funding cuts, though special COVID funding has ended. He emphasized that the core nursing and personal care model remains unchanged and that Perley continues to meet all provincial staffing and care requirements.

"Our shared goal is to minimize job loss as much as possible," Innes said, noting efforts to limit layoffs through retirements and attrition.

Broader Healthcare Context

These cuts come as Ontario hospitals face budget constraints and are being directed to balance their budgets within three years. The Ontario Hospital Association estimates hospitals need $1 billion to keep pace with inflation and population growth.

A recent Financial Accountability Office report predicts 7,263 fewer nurses and 1,700 fewer PSWs in Ontario by 2027-28, along with a decline in long-term care bed availability relative to the aging population.

What This Means for Healthcare Workers

Kevin Cook of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions warned that similar cuts could spread across the National Capital Region's hospitals. "Cutting 38 front-line jobs is not fixing the system, it is breaking it," he said.

Perley Health employs approximately 1,000 people, with about 700 unionized workers. The organization cares for more than 600 seniors and veterans in long-term care and independent living settings.