Health care workers who will join the public flying team will receive a bonus of $100 per day, under a new agreement between the government and the unions.
This is a “travel allowance”, according to the president of the Health and Social Services Federation of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), Réjean Leclerc.
This bonus is in addition to a remuneration equivalent to that given to local staff. The agreement also provides that their accommodation is provided and their travel paid.
According to Mr. Leclerc, these conditions “can be similar” to those of private agency staff in the past. But it has nothing to do, he says, with “the levels reached during the pandemic at $150 to $175 an hour.”
The government and the CSN announced late Monday the conclusion of an agreement in principle on the working conditions of the flying team.
Originally promised for June 20, this team, which could include up to 500 people, is still awaited on the Côte-Nord, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and in Outaouais, where the network is seriously short of staff.
Six people this week
The office of Health Minister Christian Dubé says that six people will be deployed this week in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the Côte-Nord. In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, this includes a nurse and a beneficiary attendant (PAB) and on the Côte-Nord, two PABs and two service auxiliaries.
On Monday, Mr. Dubé said in writing that the agreement would “accelerate” the deployment of the teams, without specifying to what extent and when.
“It is certain that there are nurses who were waiting to know the exact terms before launching,” mentioned Minister Dubé’s press attaché Audrey Noiseux.
Last week, Mr. Dubé blamed the delays on the unions’ lack of flexibility and the slowness of the staff responsible for evaluating the application files.
Originally, Minister Dubé wanted to send flying teams of about forty people each to regions with labour shortages. Unable to do so, the government has taken a different approach in recent weeks by resorting to “service loans” between establishments.
According to the ministry, 35 workers are currently “on loan” on the Côte-Nord and 30 others have been on loan since May in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.