In the absence of an agreement with the Treasury Board, Quebec health establishments will be affected by a new walkout of nurses from the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) on November 23 and 24.
This was announced by the president of the union, Julie Bouchard, in a video posted on social networks shortly after midnight on Wednesday, to mark the start of a first two-day strike decided by her union.
“We must continue to put pressure on the government,” she said in front of union members who were picketing in front of the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology of Quebec.
“We are capable, we are mobilized, united, but above all determined to seek better working conditions,” she argued, reiterating the support of the members of the union negotiating committee.
The Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) represents 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists. Their collective agreement, like that of the employees of the Inter-union Common Front, expired on March 31.
The Common Front held a first day of walkout on Monday, and announced three more on November 21, 22 and 23. The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) plans to launch an indefinite general strike from November 23.
Essential services maintained
As it is a strike in the health sector, essential services are planned and the lists have already been approved by the Administrative Labor Court. The percentage of services to be maintained varies depending on the care unit.
For example, in emergency rooms and intensive care units, 100% of services must be provided during the strike; in CHSLDs, 90%; in rehabilitation, 70%; at Info santé, 60%; in family medicine groups, 60%; in the operating room, 70%.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has warned that “certain appointments, particularly for non-urgent surgeries, could be postponed” and that patients potentially affected by these postponements have been or will be contacted by health establishments.
“The MSSS is sensitive to the repercussions for users and works in concert with all establishments in the network to mitigate the effects of the strike and provide safe care and services, in collaboration with union organizations,” said -he declared earlier this week, as the strikes began.
On the FIQ side, some members are concerned about the role of private employment agencies in the context of the strike. The common front strikers, during their strike day on Monday, found themselves faced with the same question: what about the provisions of the Labor Code which prohibit the use of replacement workers in the establishment where a strike or a lockout has been declared?
The FIQ submitted its requests to the Quebec government a year ago, on November 7, 2022; Quebec submitted its offers to all the unions on December 15.
After months of negotiations without much progress and a meeting of the FIQ with Prime Minister François Legault and President of the Treasury Board Sonia LeBel, at the end of August, the FIQ submitted its “adjusted demands” on August 9. last October.
These essentially revolve around work-family balance and workload, in addition to salaries.
For example, the FIQ is calling for the adoption of a law on safe nurse-patient ratios. She also demands that the fifth week of annual leave be obtained before 10 years of service and that a sixth week be added before 15 years of service. She also asks to increase evening and night bonuses.
With The Canadian Press