On Nov. 23, Chris Mazurkewich, new Interior Health (IH) chief executive officer, announced the decision on contracting out hospital laundry services will be delayed until March, so he can have a better look at the issue.
According to Freedom of Information documents provided to the Penticton Herald last year, IH was looking at privatizing the in-house laundry services at five major IH hospitals and six smaller communities, including 100 Mile District General Hospital.
There was an immediate outcry from the union members who were very concerned about the loss of good-paying local jobs if the service is privatized, including four in 100 Mile House.
While many people argue the cost savings of outsourcing laundry service would be marginal over the long term, there are also concerns about the integrity of the program – especially in terms of laundry delivery and contamination.
HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside says IH has stated in-house laundry operation has set the bar high in terms of productivity, efficiency and quality standards.
Meanwhile the opposition to the project is growing: municipal councils, including 100 Mile House, have passed motions against the privatization scheme, and some 13,000 citizens signed a petition against the loss of in-house laundry service and 175 family supporting jobs in their communities.
During this time, the decision by IH on whether to privatize the service has been delayed several times – the latest announced by Mazurkewich.
“... I plan to take additional time in reviewing the future of our laundry services. Subsequently, a decision on the possibility of outsourcing the service will not occur until at least March 2016 when recommendations are presented to the IH board of directors for its consideration."
Meanwhile, HEU-100 Mile House chair and shop steward Barb Matfin notes local members are apprehensive about the announcement.
"Obviously, it's a short term relief for the laundry workers, knowing they still have jobs into the new year, but then what?"
She adds the union leadership in Vancouver sees the delay as a hopeful sign that IH is taking a sober second thought.
"... that perhaps they rushed (or were bullied) into privatization by the provincial government, and are now thoroughly looking at the actual costs."
Matfin says local members worry that it's just a delay tactic for IH to get its ducks in a row, and the privatization will still happen.
"Hopefully, clearer heads will prevail, and this ill-conceived plan will be scrapped.
"I'd like to know what our Health Minister [Terry Lake] said to [Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA] Donna Barnett about her publicly disagreeing with his plans. Or, does he even care?"
Recently, Simon Fraser University economist Marvin Shaffer reviewed two IH documents, obtained through a FOI request, to analyze the health authority's rationale for outsourcing its laundry services, and found no valid business case for privatization.