The dominoes are starting to fall: after the largest teachers’ union yesterday, the Legault government finally reached an agreement with the largest group of health workers early Saturday evening. Two education sector unions also reached an agreement.
In a press release released in the evening, the government indicates that it has reached an agreement in principle with the Federation of Health and Social Services – CSN (FSSS-CSN), which represents 120,000 workers.
Negotiated at a so-called “sectoral” table, where issues specific to health care workers are discussed, this agreement in principle therefore affects working conditions.
It should be submitted to union delegates for approval before being presented to members of the FSSS-CSN at future general assemblies. However, the union warns that delegates will only be informed of its content “when we have an agreement in principle for both the sectoral table and the central table”.
Discussions continue on Saturday at the central table, where salaries are discussed.
According to the government, the new measures agreed with the FSSS-CSN ensure in particular “a better balance of work and personal life” and make it possible to “improve the service offering during unfavorable work shifts with better working conditions “.
However, “the problem remains unresolved” with regard to salary issues, affirms the group. “It will be the workers who will have the last word,” he said in a written statement.
Progress has also been made in the education sector. The Federation of Education Professionals of Quebec (FPPE-CSQ), which brings together 12,400 members, arrived at a proposed global settlement with the employer negotiating committee, after several days of intensified talks at its table sectoral. Same with the FPPC-CSQ, which brings together the majority of CEGEP professional staff.
For its part, the Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) announced on social networks that it was continuing negotiations in the presence of a conciliator, appointed last Tuesday.
At the “central” table
Negotiations continued there until 2 a.m. Saturday and work was expected to resume quickly. A positive sign: the government and the Common Front maintain that it is possible that a settlement can be reached by December 25.
The FSSS-CSN, however, affirms “the problem remains unresolved with regard to the central table issues” and affirms that “the salary issues will have to be resolved in order to avoid an unlimited general strike of the Common Front at the start of 2024” .
The FSSS-CSN, which notably represents nurses and office and technical staff in the health network, is the largest sectoral negotiation table. With the Common Front, the grouping has so far engaged in three episodes of strike, for a total of 11 days.
Failing to find an agreement before the end of the year, the Common Front, including the FSSS-CSN, threatened an unlimited general strike in 2024.
With Léa Carrier, The Press