/R E P E A T -- MEDIA ADVISORY - OPSEU joins rallies to oppose flawed hospital merger plans/

AJAX/BOWMANVILLE, ON, Nov. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - This Saturday, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union will stand in partnership with the residents of West Durham and Scarborough to send a clear message to Liberal government MPPs in the region in opposition of two giant hospital mergers. The Rouge Valley Health System, Lakeridge Health and the Scarborough Hospital are affected by the proposed merger plan. Community rallies have been planned in Ajax and Bowmanville.

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas will be speaking at the Ajax event.

Date:	Saturday November 5, 2016
Time:	12 p.m. (noon)
Place:	Ajax-Pickering Hospital, Harwood Avenue at Emperor (main driveway)
Time:	12 p.m. (noon)
Place:	MPP Granville Anderson's Office, 23 King Street West, Bowmanville

"These rallies are an opportunity to tell the Liberal government that our communities do not support these hospital mergers that will cost tens of millions of dollars and result in cuts to vital front-line staff and hospital services," said Sara Labelle, chair of OPSEU's Hospital Professionals Division. "We can't take any more cuts and moving forward with this merger plan would be reckless and irresponsible."

"It's no wonder area residents are up in arms," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President. "There have been no public hearings, and the entire process has been backward. The Liberal MPPs in this region need to be concerned about the public outcry, and I'm thrilled that so many are making their voices heard."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931; Sara Labelle, 905-914-4037