Sault Steelworkers sue to try and stop Group Health Centre patient cuts

Sault union sues over health care cuts The largest union representing Algoma Steel employees is taking legal action over its members being de-rostered from Group Health Centre.

The United Steelworkers union representing Algoma Steel employees is taking legal action after its members and retirees learned they are being de-rostered from the Group Health Centre.

Officials with Local 2251 say the union was integral in the formation of the health care organization, with members paying to build the group health’s current site in the 1960s.

At an emergency meeting Tuesday night in the Sault, members voted to sue Group Health Centre to try and stop the removal of its member from the centre’s patient roster.

Timing is critical, as union leaders said they have until the end of the month for the injunction to be effective because that's when de-rostering officially takes place.

Local 2251 president Mike Da Prat said the union sought information through a freedom of information request, only to be told that the centre isn’t subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

“All we got was the same information, question and answers that they have on their website,” Da Prat said.

“It's obvious that a lawsuit needs to happen.”

Group Health officials were not available for comment on the lawsuit, but a spokesperson did offer a statement:

“GHC has submitted several requests to the Ministry of Health regarding our funding. Unfortunately, our expression of interest for expanding and enhancing inter-professional primary care team, which amounted to $3 million, was not selected. Despite this setback, we remain in regular communication with the ministry about the remaining $8 million.”

Da Prat said he wants more action from the municipal government officials.

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In the last 20 years, he said leadership at Group Health Centre has changed its structure to reduce union voices, which previously had as many as five members on the centre’s board.

Da Prat said the end goal of the lawsuit is to revert to a previous structure at the Group Health Centre that would see union members and retirees rostered once again and eligible for the same-day clinic until more physicians are available.