We are aware of the recent media reports in which Health Minister Cameron Friesen seems unwilling to publicly state that the Concordia Hospital Emergency Department will close at the end of June as planned. We are awaiting clarification from the Employer because we know these changes will have such a dramatic effect on our members who work at Concordia Hospital and at Shared Health Concordia.
What does the Minister’s statement mean? Is the March 25, 2019 Employment Security notice still applicable? In that notice, the Employer indicated that the changes would take place no earlier than June 24, 2019.
To be clear, MAHCP has not agreed to a labour adjustment strategy yet because the Employer has not assured us that the real impact on our members is finalized. The Employer has committed to providing a more accurate number of positions affected. That was to happen sometime this week. Unfortunately, the Minister’s statement casts further doubt and uncertainty, and it remains unclear what the actual plan is for Concordia and the work our members do there.
I have heard the frustration from our Concordia Hospital members first-hand, and I share that frustration. We continue to await answers from the Employer and we will share whatever information we can, as soon as we can.
In solidarity,
Bob Moroz
MAHCP President
