CUPE 5425, The union representing professional and technical staff at the Montreal Island-East CIUSSS has joined those who welcomed the announcement of the reconstruction of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. Once completed, this highly anticipated project will significantly improve care and services to the public in many ways.
“We are very pleased that this project is getting off the ground. The new institution will be a game-changer for the East End, which has traditionally been shortchanged. However, we must remain vigilant until the project is fully completed. First of all, we must ensure that its configuration fully meets the needs of patients and staff and ensure that the temporary relocation of care and services has as little negative impact as possible,” said Marie-Hélène Brunet, President of CUPE 5425.
“We recognize the fact that there is a shortage of professional and technical staff in the East End, partly due to the lack of suitable workspaces, suitable home bases and enclosed offices that ensure patient confidentiality. The hospital renovation represents an opportunity to make the CIUSSS more attractive as an employer. However, there is also a risk that services will become scattered and dispersed. “We must avoid a repeat of unfortunate events such as the closure of the pediatric psychiatric services of the CIUSSS,” explained Brunet.
She therefore urges the CIUSSS management to consult with their trade union colleagues at every crucial stage of the project.
Furthermore, CUPE is concerned that Health Minister Christian Dubé is using this reconstruction as an excuse to privatize the public system in the east of the island.
“We were concerned this morning when the Minister spoke about the role of the East End private mini-hospital during the ongoing works. We know that these private hospitals will widen gaps in the public system, exacerbate staff retention problems, select the easier and more lucrative cases, and divert public resources. As far as Dubé is concerned, the private sector seems to be here for good. “This is a very bad idea,” emphasized Maxime Ste-Marie, president of the Conseil provincial des Affairs Sociales (CPAS-CUPE).
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