On-call nurses in seven communities in Hudson’s Bay, northern Quebec, who held a sit-in on Thursday evening to denounce their conditions were forced by the court to return to work, which their union strongly deplores.
“When the nurses are made to do this ultimate act of mobilization, it’s a cry for help. There, it is as if the employer had told them: “I hear your cry, but I will not help you and I will even force you to return.” It sends the wrong message,” denounces Patrick Guay, vice-president of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec.
About 15 nurses scattered in seven villages on the Hudson Bay coast refused to take care Thursday evening to protest against the lack of staff and their poor working conditions.
Faced with this sit inthe Inuulitsivik Health and Social Services Center (CSI) turned to the Administrative Labor Tribunal, which notably ordered that the nurses return to work and respond to on-call calls.
Archaic
“The employer chose coercion. It is an archaic and outdated mode of management. Instead, we have to sit down with the union and find real long-term solutions,” said Mr. Guay.
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“These nurses feel that their rights to denounce situations that do not work have been violated,” adds Cyril Gabreau, president of the Northern Union of Hudson’s Bay Nurses.
They have been appealing for help for almost a year now in the face of a lack of personnel and even supplies.
A meeting is scheduled for Monday with the director general of the establishment. The expectations of nurses are high, and some are ready to resign en masse, warns Mr. Gabreau.
The Inuulitsivik Health Center had still not answered our questions on Friday evening.