HSN employee elected to Ontario Council of Hospital Unions board

Posted: May 3, 2016

(May 3, 2016)

Author: Sudbury.com Staff

Sudbury’s Sharon Richer was elected as secretary-treasurer of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE on April 28.

Richer works at Health Sciences North 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,” Richer said in a press release.

“Northern Ontario is hurting badly from nine 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 Health Coalition’s community referendums on hospital cuts, which are scheduled for May 28.”

Richer replaces Helen Fetterly (Cornwall), who stepped down after 18 years in the position.

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

Kingston’s Louis Rodrigues 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. Rodrigues is also a trustee to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan representing CUPE.

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