(Laval) In view of the opening of the next parliamentary session, Premier François Legault has invited unions and professional orders to be more flexible and creative in addressing the labor shortage.
He delivered the message as the state is in negotiations with public sector unions to renew collective agreements, which expire on March 31.
The head of government acknowledged that the discussions were going to be difficult, but believes that he himself is showing flexibility.
Mr. Legault then took stock of the pre-sessional caucus of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) which was held Thursday and Friday in a hotel in Laval.
It was an opportunity for some ministers to present their plans, including Education Minister Bernard Drainville, who announced several projects, some of which were criticized by the unions.
At a press conference, Mr. Legault called on the health and education unions to show openness in trying to remedy the problem.
Mr. Legault, for example, mentioned the possibility of childcare educators coming to help teachers in the classroom, an idea that has been denounced by the unions. Or, accept teachers who do not yet have a baccalaureate.
In health, it is also a question of discussing with the professional orders to delegate certain acts, in particular from nurses to nursing assistants.
“We’re going to have to be creative, inventive, find new ways of working to get through this labor shortage,” said the Prime Minister.
He assures that he himself shows flexibility. In particular, he recalled that he insisted on not giving the same salary increases to all employment groups during the last negotiations, but rather on prioritizing beneficiary attendants, daycare workers, etc.
“We try to be flexible too […]. Our goal is to help workers. I understand that there are unions, but at the end of the day, there are workers. »