CUPE 5167 Labour Disruption for Reporting to Hamilton Public Health Services

Current Situation

As you may have heard, labour negotiations have been ongoing between the City of Hamilton and CUPE Local 5167, however, beginning on Monday, August 21, 2023 at midnight, there is potential for Hamilton's public services to face a labour disruption which will impact some services and programs within Hamilton Public Health Services. In anticipation of the labour disruption, Public Health Services prepared contingency plans to ensure essential services remain in place. Note that some services will be paused, some delayed and some will have new processes. Program phone-lines will be monitored however there may be a delay in responding.

Action Required

1. Please see the change in process for Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis.
2. Continue to report all suspect and confirmed Diseases of Public Health Significance, including outbreaks. ID case and contact management will continue.

Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis – Process Change (only for duration of a labour disruption)

All patients requiring Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis shall be directed to one of two locations with onsite storage:

1. Main West Urgent Care 690 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 1A4
2. St. Joe’s Urgent Care 2757 King St E, Hamilton, ON L8G 5E4

Unfortunately, there will be no delivery of rabies post exposure prophylaxis to any other location, including hospitals and family physician offices. Once an agreement has been reached and staff return to work, the original process will resume as usual.

Reporting Requirements

Continue to report all suspect and confirmed Diseases of Public Health Significance to the Medical Officer of Health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.H.7.

Reporting to Hamilton Public Health Services

1. Bites or other animal contact incidents should be reported by phoning the City of Hamilton’s Rabies Program at the numbers listed below. We can be reached and will respond on 24 hour/7 days a week basis. You can follow up any verbal report using our mandatory reporting form by fax at 905-546-2787.

Rabies - To report an incident during business hours, please call 905-546-2424 ex. 3327 to reach our Rabies Program secretary’s line.  Please leave a detailed voicemail message; every effort will be made to return your call as soon as possible on the same day.

After-hours, Weekends and Holidays

To report a rabies incident outside of business hours, please also call directly to 905-546-2424 ex. 3327 where the call will be forwarded to on-call Manager.

2. To report suspect and confirmed Diseases of Public Health Significance, including outbreaks call Hamilton Public Health Services

• Regular Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at 905-546-2063 or fax 905-546-4078.
• After-hours: Monday to Friday after 4:30 pm, weekends and Holidays please call 905-546-2424 ex. 3327 where the call will be forwarded to on-call Manager.

In the event of a labour disruption, the City of Hamilton is committed to providing residents with timely updates. Information will be shared on the City’s social media accounts, website and through traditional media. Citizens will also have the option of  subscribing to digital notices and newsletters at www.hamilton.ca/subscribe and can also be accessed via a dedicated webpage at www.hamilton.ca/serviceupdates