Hamilton Health Sciences Proposes About 413 Job Cuts to Close $150M Deficit

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) plans to cut about 413 positions to close a projected $150 million budget deficit for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The cuts would fall across several job types, including 143 nursing positions, 97 clerical positions and 84 healthcare aide positions. About 157 of the affected positions are already vacant.

CUPE 7800 represents about 4,750 to 5,000 HHS staff. The union says the cuts will make emergency room wait times worse, and they're already long. At Hamilton General Hospital, only about 18% of ER patients are admitted within the province's 8-hour target, and the average wait is about 24.1 hours. The union also warns that the cuts will further hurt staff morale, which is already strained.

CUPE is asking the province to fully cover hospital operating costs. It has announced a rally at Hamilton General Hospital on October 13.

What this means for employees

When a hospital restructures, staff often lose their jobs, but it can also mean new duties, fewer hours or a transfer to another role or site. Both unionized and non-unionized employees may have questions about notice periods, severance, or whether a change to their job counts as constructive dismissal. Your rights depend on your employment contract, your collective agreement if you have one, and Ontario employment law.

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. If you're affected, speak with an employment lawyer about your situation.