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FREDERICTON: The New Brunswick Council of Hospital Unions – CUPE Local 1252 which represents hospital workers, released a report today that portrays a poor picture of the situation that prevailed in hospitals and other institutions where food and cleaning services have been privatized. “We are very concerned that the Liberal government is negotiating with a private firm to take over the management of food and cleaning services in the Province’s hospitals” explained Norma Robinson, president of CUPE Local 1252.

“This report has been prepared for Health Minister Victor Boudreau and since the Minister doesn’t seem interested in meeting with us, we decided to release it to inform the public. We believe it is important for New Brunswickers to understand the impact of such a move, especially when it comes to the cleanliness of a building which the public relies on everyday.”

“Our research into the three companies being considered to take over those services, Sodexo, Aramark and Compass, shows a very troubling picture of the quality of the services provided. All over the world, all three competitors have shown very poor track records when it comes to cleaning and food preparation. The latest being in Ontario’s Niagara Health Region where the Hospital Board ended that relationship with Aramark after a major outbreak of C. difficile that caused the death of 37 patients.”

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At a press conference today, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) called upon Premier Brian Gallant to honour his campaign promises to sit down at the table with groups representing civil servants and retirees to look at alternatives to the previous Conservative government’s pension reforms.

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FREDERICTON: The mandate of the Horizon Health Network CEO, John McGarry, is not to privatize health care but to provide public health care for all New Brunswickers.

“John McGarry is not a private health-care consultant anymore. His role is not to promote a ‘greater use of private health-care firms’ but to deliver public health services”, said Daniel Légère, President of CUPE NB.

“We are very concerned when Horizon’s CEO is promoting at public functions ‘opportunities for the private sector to get more involved in our system’.”

“Health Minister Victor Boudreau wants the private sector to play a greater role in the province’s health-care system and it seems Horizon CEO shared his views.”

“Health care is not-for-profit. New Brunswickers are already funding public health care with their taxes. Why would they have to pay a private company to get a public service? If we go down that path, where will it stop? What will happen to New Brunswickers who can’t afford to pay for private services?”

“The Liberals were not elected on a mandate to privatize health care and to reduce services to rural New Brunswickers. In their election program, they talked about ‘better health care’ not private health care”, concluded Légère.

MONCTON : The Greater Moncton Wastewater Commission -TransAqua – made the right decision not to pursue a public-private partnership for the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant.

“We are pleased that the Commission decided to build the upgrades to the treatment plant using the traditional funding model”, said CUPE NB President Daniel Légère.

“This decision will allow the Commission to keep control over the management of the wastewater plant and the cost of the project. As well, this 80 million dollar project will be a great boost to the local economy.”

“After completing a thorough due diligence study process, the Commission came to the conclusion that a P3 project would be too costly for taxpayers.”

“We are calling upon the provincial government to go through the same due-diligence study process for the P3 nursing homes projects in Miramichi and Fredericton.”

“Across the country, we have examples where P3 projects have cost hundreds of millions more than if they had been delivered publicly. Last December, Ontario’s Auditor General found that P3 projects in that province cost at least $8 billion more over the last decade than they would have if they’d been publicly delivered. Fully $6.5 billion of that was due to the higher cost of private financing.”

“The government cannot wash its hands from its responsibility and leave the care of our seniors in the hands of for-profit companies”, concluded Légère.

CHIPMAN: The Gallant Government is taking the wrong path with its attacks on
Healthcare services and rural New Brunswick.

“Yesterday, we were informed that one ambulance servicing the Chipman area would be eliminated by mid-June”, said Daniel Légère president of CUPE NB.

“It is obvious, this government has its sights on rural New Brunswick. Rural communities are more dependent on public services because of their distance from major centers. The government should be improving theses services instead of slashing what’s left in our communities”, said Légère.

“The Liberals of Brian Gallant were elected on a promise of creating jobs and growing the economy. Yesterday’s announcement does just the opposite. This decision from the government will affect between 8 to 10 fulltime and part-time paramedics”, concluded Légère.

CHIPMAN: Ambulance New Brunswick has been directed by the Gallant Government to cut one ambulance stationed in Chipman.

“We have been informed this morning that one ambulance will be taken out of service in mid-June”, said Ralph McBride, coordinator for CUPE Local 4848, which represents the paramedics and dispatchers in the province.

“The paramedics staffing the ambulance will receive their 30-day layoff notices tomorrow. This decision from the government will affect between 8 to 10 fulltime and part-time paramedics.”

“Right now, four ambulances cover the Minto-Chipman-Mill Cove area. Two of the ambulances are stationed in Chipman. Under the Dynamic Deployment System used by Ambulance NB when one ambulance is responding to an emergency call, they still have one ambulance as backup. This decision to eliminate one ambulance will have an impact on services offered in Boiestown, Doaktown, Stanley and even Fredericton.”

“Health Minister Victor Boudreau seems to think of profit over patient safety and care. Once more, the Brian Gallant Government is targeting rural New Brunswickers and is showing us they don’t care about the wellbeing of New Brunswickers; they only thing that seems to matter is balancing the books,” concluded McBride.

Saint John: The hours of operation at the St. Joseph’s Hospital Urgent Care Department will be reduced to the bare minimum as of May 1st.

“It has been brought to the attention of CUPE Local 1252 that the operating hours of the Urgent Care Department will be reduced by 4 hours by the end of the week,” said CUPE Local 1252 Coordinator Ralph McBride.

“The current hours of operation now runs on a 12-hour day and will be reduced to an 8-hour day service instead. St. Joseph’s Hospital provides a valuable service to the residents of Saint John, especially those who live in the Southern Peninsula.”

“This move is not only going to increase the wait time at the Saint John Regional Hospital, but it will also place unnecessary hardship on people that cannot afford the transportation cost to the regional facility.”

“The people in that area either walk to the facility for care or take a short taxi ride, if this care is needed after hours then they will be looking at a longer more expensive taxi ride which then means they could have to make a choice between food or their health,” said the President of CUPE Local 1252, Norma Robinson.

Norma Robinson is very concerned with the province’s decision, which she feels is unfair to those who are less fortunate.

“Now, the government wants to cut an additional 10% which is the equivalent to $250 millions to Health Care Services. It seems this government is willing to place people who are living at or below the poverty line in jeopardy regardless of their needs.”

“It is important that the people of the Saint John region speak up about this new reduction in service or what will be next. They should be contacting their area MLA to voice their concerns” concluded Robinson.

FREDERICTON: Delegates at the CUPE NB 52nd Annual Convention reelected Daniel Légère as president, last weekend in Fredericton.

Daniel Légère told the delegates that he was committed to work for advancement of the workers’ issues.

“We have many challenges in front of us this year. We need to stop the Gallant Government’s austerity agenda.”

Convention delegates adopted an action plan to fight the government’s austerity agenda. The plan will focus on the mobilization of CUPE membership. “We will reach out to New Brunswickers. We need to stop the erosion of our public services.”

“We need to protect public services for all New Brunswickers. We can’t let the government slash public services.”

Daniel Légère, a member of CUPE Local 1251, was first elected president of the Division in 2005.