Post by Rick (Admin) on Apr 10, 2013 18:56:50 GMT -5
Layoff process proceeds at North Bay Hospital
The bumping has begun.
More than 20 registered practical nurses will receive their layoff notices this week.
They will have seven days to decide their possible future.
More than 40 registered nurses and registered practical nursing positions were eliminated at the North Bay Regional Health Centre earlier this year as part of a cost-saving measure.
The cutbacks are part of the hospital's way of dealing with a multi-million deficit, however it's unknown how much will be saved through this process.
It's also unknown what other efficiencies the hospital will make to get out of the red.
Union officials have come out against the cuts saying several hospital units are already working short and the hospital is trying to replace full-time staff with less qualified part-time workers.
Sue McIntyre, president of CUPE local 139, said the cuts have impacted 31 RPNs.
“Nine of those nurses have accessed full-time vacancies within the hospital, one is retiring and another is taking advantage of the hospital's early exit option.”
According to CUPE, there are no more vacant full-time RPN positions left and maybe a dozen part-time positions still remain open.
McIntyre said these cuts are impacting nurses with five to 12 years experience.
“We're losing a huge amount of experience and dismantling mental health,” she said Wednesday.
Although the notices are now out and bumping will soon be underway the process is far from over.
McIntyre said nurses who are qualified to be a paramedic can bump into that position, as well, nurses can bump those in the mental health or medical side of the hospital as long as they have more seniority. Once those opportunities have been exhausted, nurses can bump into lower classifications like secretarial, ward clerk and housekeeping.
“This hospital took a stable workforce and dismantled it. I just wonder when and if it's going to hit the top,” McIntyre said.
She said there's concern the hospital is using personal support workers to replace RPNs, which will affect inpatient quality of care.
Karen Bennett, vice-president of addictions, mental health and senior services at the North Bay Regional Health Centre, said union members weren't the only ones impacted by the recent wave of cutbacks.
She said several non-union positions were eliminated.
When asked how many, Bennett said, she didn't have an exact number or how much was saved.
She also didn't know how many nurses would be out of work once the bumping was complete.
Bennett said the hospital will continue to look at how they do business, as well as, efficiencies.
Shawn Shank, vice-president of CUPE local 139, said there is a lot of mixed emotion right now among hospital staff.
“Affected staff have figured out who they are and most people are simply numb to the situation because it's dragging along,” he said.
“Morale is really low right now, but we've been told the hospital is done touching nursing care after this.”
www.nugget.ca/2013/04/10/layoff-notices-issued