Ontario Council of Hospital Unions - CUPE

08/19/2026

Despite the Ford government's rhetoric about "record funding" for hospitals, the cuts continue to wreak havoc in our public system. Queensway Carleton in Ottawa is laying off 101 staff, including 80 nurses!

Today, CUPE, the Ontario Nurses' Association, and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) held a rally to protest the cuts.

ER wait-times at Queensway Carleton are already double the length of the 8-hour target time set by the province. But instead of hiring the additional staff to reduce wait-times, and provide care more efficiently, the underfunded hospital is laying off dedicated staff.

The result is predictable: hallway medicine will intensify, waits for surgeries will lengthen and care will be degraded by these cuts – all things that this government has promised to fix. We expect them to honour their promises to the people of Ontario.

08/12/2026

OCHU/CUPE has released a new report examining hospital capacity, funding, staffing and privatization in Ontario.

The research shows a system under increasing pressure: hospital working capital has fallen sharply, staffing shortages remain severe, operating deficits are growing, and privatization has not delivered the promised improvements in wait times.

The report brings together key data on:

• hospital funding and financial capacity
• staffing shortages and job losses
• Ontario’s position compared with other provinces
• the impact of privatization on access and wait times

Read the full report:
https://ochu.on.ca/capacity-and-privatization-in-ontario-hospitals/

08/05/2026

Yesterday, we launched a province-wide media tour at Queen’s Park in Toronto, presented by Michael Hurley and Doug Allan.

The tour highlights the growing crisis in Ontario’s hospitals, including the loss of $2.2 billion in working capital since 2020, more than 1,300 job cuts, chronic understaffing, capacity pressures and expanding privatization.

Over the coming weeks, we will bring this message to communities across Ontario and call for proper hospital funding, stronger staffing levels and an end to privatization.

07/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined CUPE local 5852 's rally at Scarborough Hospital.

Scarborough hospital workers called on the Ford government to provide the funding hospitals need to protect patient care and support frontline staff.

Thank you to CUPE Local 5852 for standing up on this critical issue.

We were grateful to hear from Marit Stiles, Leader of the Opposition, for attending the rally and showing her support for hospital workers and patients!

Also grateful to Yolanda McClean, President of CUPE Ontario who emphasized the importance of properly funding Ontario’s hospitals, and Stacy James, President of CUPE Local 5852, who spoke about the impact of funding shortfalls and ongoing cuts.

A special thank-you to CUPE Local 5852 for providing lunch and water for everyone who attended!

Follow our page for updates about upcoming rallies and actions. Together, we make a huge difference!

07/22/2026

Birchmount (Scarborough) Hospital is facing a $36 million funding shortfall that threatens patient care, increases wait times and worsens working conditions for hospital staff.

Join OCHU together with CUPE 5852 and health care workers to demand proper hospital funding.

Monday, July 27, 2026
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Birchmount Hospital, 3030 Birchmount Road, Scarborough

Bring a coworker, family member or friend. Join the rally and make your voice heard.

07/20/2026

Understaffing means heavier workloads, longer waits and less time for every patient.

Ontario needs enforceable patient-to-nurse ratios to protect patient care, reduce burnout and retain nurses in our public health care system.

Ontario must pass Bill 19. But change will only happen if we show the provincial government that safe staffing matters to people across Ontario.

Add your voice. Sign the petition today.

Link
https://www.robinlennox.ca/nurse_to_patient_ratios_now

07/14/2026

07/13/2026

We are witnessing yet another wave of layoffs at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton as the hospital eliminates 57 RN jobs. The provincial government continues to play hide and seek with funding, with records showing that St. Joseph's received only a 1.7% increase in 2025 - well short of the 6% required to maintain services.

The reduction in nursing jobs are bad for patient care. Ontario's hospitals have the fewest nurses compared to other Canadian provinces, and we desperately need more registered nurses and registered practical nurses to ensure safe working conditions and quality care.

Media release: ochu.on.ca/2026/07/13/cupe-slams-nursing-cuts-at-st-josephs-hamilton-as-hospital-reels-under-budget-deficit/

07/08/2026

Today, CUPE PSWs were joined by other health care workers to make a strong statement outside Doug Ford's office: Fix HSCPOA!

Personal support workers deserve the same rights as other regulated health care professionals, and the government must end these discriminatory tactics against some of the lowest paid staff in health care.

For more info, visit cupe.on.ca/hscpoa