As St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton moves to cut 62 jobs, workers warn of more burnout

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is cutting 62 jobs and a union leader says that will mean more to do for workers already burned out. 

“Just because jobs are eliminated, the work does not disappear,” union leader Richard Rigby said at a protest outside one of St. Joe’s hospitals on Thursday. “The work just gets absorbed by other, already burnt out members here at St. Joes’. This takes invaluable time away from these workers caring for your family and friends.”

Rigby is president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 786, which represents over 2,000 workers at St. Joe’s across sites including Charlton, King and West 5th. Members include registered practical nurses, personal support workers, occupational therapists and attendants, as well as housekeeping, administrative, payroll, information technology and maintenance workers. 

Rigby spoke as part of a union-led protest including hospital workers, labour leaders and community members, who braved temperatures of about -10 C to gather on the sidewalk in front of St. Joe’s Charlton Avenue E., campus and call for change.

Job cuts include 24 vacancies, 38 active jobs

According to an email obtained by CBC News, St. Joe’s announced the cuts in November, telling workers it would eliminate 24 vacant positions and 38 active jobs.

Rigby said the union can’t say which positions will be affected yet because it needs to inform members who will be losing their jobs first. He said he expects staff facing layoff to be notified in the next few weeks.

In addition to those cuts, he said, St. Joe’s has called off a planned expansion of its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), from 17 to 21 beds.

These Job losses and the postponed NICU expansion are happening because the hospital is in a $25-million deficit on its $800-million budget this fiscal year, the union said, attributing that to provincial underfunding.  

Rigby said the province “continues to create the narrative that public healthcare does not work,” while supporting private healthcare options.

“The system is broken because it’s not funded properly,” Rigby said. “The government’s priorities are out of whack.” 

In the fall, Ontario's Ministry of Health tasked hospitals struggling with deficits to come up with a three-year plan to balance their budgets. Officials told hospitals to assume annual funding increases of two per cent — half of what they have received in the past three years. 

In October, the Ontario Hospital Association said hospitals needed an additional $1 billion to keep pace with factors such as population growth and inflation.

Ema Popovic, spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, told CBC Hamilton “claims made by protestors are misguided,” and in fact, the Ontario government is making “investing a historic $91.5 billion in healthcare,” including a 4 per cent increase in hospital funding for a record third consecutive year. 

This builds on nearly $60 billion for major hospital infrastructure, $500 million for smaller projects, and $228 million annually through the Hospital Infrastructure Renewal Fund.

Popovic said the province gave St. Joe’s funding for the four additional NICU bassinets in June 2024, but “unfortunately, the hospital has been unable to open the beds.” 

“To support the region’s NICU needs, the four NICU bed allocation will be moved to another hospital within the region and the SJHH NICU redevelopment project is continuing,” Popvic added.

In an emailed statement, St. Joe's spokesperson Lauren Stasila told CBC Hamilton the institution is "facing budgetary pressures," like "many hospitals across Ontario," and identified $9.1 million is savings.

Those savings will come from reducing energy use, "administrative and corporate support budgets," and "some changes to the way we provide care to better match the needs of patients," Stasila said. "They will not reduce access to services or impact our ability to deliver exceptional care."  

She said the changes are "difficult but necessary," and said St. Joe's anticipates "many" staff affected by job cuts will be able to work at St. Joe’s in other positions and others will be offered early retirement options. 

St. Joe's has identified $2.3 million in new "revenue-generating initiatives" and will continue to work with the province on a long-term financial plan, Stasila added.

‘Hamilton deserves better’

Kevin Cook, vice president of CUPE’s Ontario Hospital Council of Unions (OCHU-CUPE), said despite its messaging, the government is starving the public health care system. 

Cook, who said he’s worked at the Charlton campus for 35 years, told the rally underfunding will lead to longer wait times and more people being cared for in hallways. 

“Hamilton deserves better. Patients deserve better,” Cook said.

Jillian Watt, president of CUPE 7800 who represents Hamilton Health Sciences staff, echoed Cook's concern. 

“We already stretched thin. We’ve already seen hallways full, surgeries delayed, and staff leave because they're exhausted and unsupported. Cutting jobs is now reckless and shortsighted,” Watt said. “Healthcare workers didn't create this crisis. But we are being asked to carry it.”