Despite progress on certain peripheral issues in the negotiations for a new collective agreement with public sector health workers, discussions on several key issues are still said to be at a standstill.
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At least that’s what the president of the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS), affiliated with the CSN and the Common Front, Réjean Leclerc, puts forward in an interview with LCN.
“It seems that we have resolved certain issues on the outskirts,” he said. But it is clear that with regard to the crux of the problems, in particular the organization of working hours and the movement of staff that the government wants to do as it wishes and certain bonuses, the discussions are very difficult.
“After 80 meetings, the government has not moved one iota. He makes it an absolute,” he continues.
The adoption of Bill 15, which has the effect of centralizing the coordination of operations in the health network, makes union members fear the worst
“In a context where the government is voting on a bill that gives it control over all networks throughout Quebec via an unprecedented merger or centralization, you will understand that our members are fearful, and are asking us to let them the little latitude they have, namely predictability [de leurs quarts]», Explains the president of the FSSS-CSN.
“After 80 meetings, when we announce ourselves with a settlement a few days before the holidays, the whole exercise of proposal and counter-proposal is all the more difficult because we have had previous proposals refused during the “summer and this fall,” he adds. What we want is for us to have a little less of the impression that the government wants to take control in all directions.”
The option of resorting to an unlimited general strike is still very much present.
“It is clear that yes,” says Mr. Leclerc. We have no choice but to say it like that because in negotiations, everything is often settled in the last night, the last day. The less there is to negotiate, the more likely there is to be an agreement.”
The union, however, says it is ready to settle in a very short time if it sees an opening from the government on the issues it considers key.
“At the sectoral level, there are still a few pieces, and these issues [la prévisibilité des quarts, le déplacement du personnel et certaines primes] It is estimated that if the government has an opening, we will be able to settle in half a day or a day. But you have to put in the effort, you have to trust yourself and at the moment trust is difficult.”
Watch the full interview in the video above