First as northern activist elected as Secretary-Treasurer of OCHU

TORONTO, April 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Sharon Richer was elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE on April 28. Ms. Richer is employed by the Sudbury Regional Hospital and was until her election, vice-president of CUPE Local 1623.

"This is the first time that a worker from the north has been elected to a full-time position with the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions. Northern Ontario is hurting badly from 9 years of provincial hospital budget cuts. Hospitals in Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, North Bay, New Liskeard and many other northern communities are closing beds, operating rooms and services. Hospitals like Mathews Memorial on St. Joseph's Island are facing closure. All of the resources that we have to muster will be aimed at defending healthcare services, beginning with an energetic push behind the Ontario Healthcare Coalition's community referendums on hospital cuts, which are scheduled for May 28" says Ms. Richer.

Ms. Richer replaces Helen Fetterly (Cornwall), who stepped down after 18 years in the position. Ms. Fetterly will continue to serve as CUPE's trustee and as Board Chair of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan until her term expires in January 2017.

Michael Hurley (Ottawa) was acclaimed as president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, a position that he has held for 26 years.

Louis Rodrigues (Kingston) was re-elected to the position of First Vice-president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, a position that he has held for 18 years. Mr. Rodrigues is also a trustee to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan representing CUPE.

SOURCE Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (CUPE)

Michael Hurley, President, OCHU: 416-884-0770; Sharon Richer, Secretary-Treasurer, OCHU: 705-280-0911; Louis Rodrigues, First Vice-president, OCHU: 613-531-1319