(Montreal) The FIQ says it is “extremely pleased” to have resumed conciliation discussions with Quebec on Wednesday, and says it is ready to negotiate in the evening, at night and on weekends too, if necessary.
The countdown has begun, as the Interprofessional Health Federation has asked its members to refuse to work overtime starting September 19.
In an interview on Wednesday, FIQ President Julie Bouchard said she hoped she would not have to use this other means of pressure and that the resumption of conciliation would finally bear fruit.
Far from going there resigned or discouraged, “we are really pleased” to begin this intensive negotiation session, assured the union leader.
It was the conciliator who summoned the FIQ and the Treasury Board to try to resolve the impasse that persists regarding the renewal of the collective agreement, particularly on the clauses on the mobility of nurses and the voluntary aspect of such travel.
The collective agreement expired on March 31, 2023. An agreement in principle had been reached between the FIQ and Quebec, but it was the members who rejected it, by a margin of 61%. Since then, it has been an impasse, because of this issue of greater mobility required of nurses.