55% of Lakeridge hospital nurses, PSWs other staff physically assaulted at work as pandemic violence surges; new CUPE poll finds

OSHAWA, ON – Lakeridge Health Centre registered practical nurses (RPNs), personal support workers (PSWs), cleaners, porters and clerical staff polled recently report that pandemic tensions are subjecting them to increasing violence at work. 55% of them report that they have experienced physical violence and 52% have witnessed an increase in violent incidences during the COVID-19…

53% of Peterborough/Lindsay hospital nurses, PSWs other staff report feeling depressed, emotionally exhausted as pandemic violence surges; new CUPE poll finds

PETERBOROUGH, ON – At both Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and Ross Memorial Hospital, registered practical nurses (RPNs), personal support workers (PSWs), cleaners, porters and clerical staff polled report that pandemic tensions are subjecting some of the highest rates sexual harassment and assault-related violence province-wide. Because of the conditions at work over the last two…

Widespread hospital closures demand urgent attention and real accountability

Unions representing 70,000 hospital workers issue open letters to the Ontario Hospital Association and the provincial government for full transparency and staff support to fix the worsening health human resource crisis in Ontario TORONTO, ON – Today, SEIU Healthcare and OCHU/CUPE, unions representing 70,000 hospitals workers across Ontario, issued open letters to hospital executives and…

PCs must make good on their legislated promise to keep LTC residents cool in heatwaves: CUPE calls for immediate installation of air conditioning in all delinquent LTC homes

TORONTO, ON – By failing to enforce a deadline mandating long-term care operators to install air conditioning in all resident rooms, Ontario’s PC government has again left frail and vulnerable residents to suffer, this time in scorching heat. “The Premier’s lip-service to the importance of air conditioning in long-term care homes just isn’t good enough.…

North Bay hospital nurses, PSWs, other staff report high rates of violence, including 28% rise in assaults with weapons during pandemic; new CUPE poll

NORTH BAY, ON –Pandemic tensions are subjecting registered practical nurses (RPNs), personal support workers (PSWs) and other staff at North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) to high rates of workplace violence, a new poll shows. Polling conducted by Oracle Research on behalf of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) May 17-24, shows a disturbing…