(Quebec and Montreal) About a hundred emergency nurses from Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (HMR) are demanding the resignation of the head of their unit, otherwise they will leave their posts. The signatories denounce a “toxic atmosphere” and “inhuman working conditions”.
A petition signed by around 100 HRM emergency workers was submitted Friday to the management of the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal to demand the departure of the head of their unit, whose management would contribute to the strong use of compulsory overtime (TSO).
“The number of TSOs is constantly growing and this encourages our team members to leave, thus creating more than deplorable working conditions,” the document states. The Press was able to consult. The signatories say they have noted a “metarous deterioration” in their working conditions since the manager in question took office in July. He is criticized for “not having put anything in place” to retain staff, his “lack of support, listening, empathy”.
According to the wording, “the entire emergency team” no longer has confidence. “If no action is taken” by January 18, the signatories will “submit” their letter of resignation.
The Press reported in December the cry from the heart of nine HMR nurses and nursing assistants who openly denounced “schemes” by managers to force them to stay in their jobs. On Wednesday, there was also a “sad record” of TSOs imposed last week.
” It’s cruel ”
The president of the Union of Healthcare Professionals of the East Island of Montreal, Denis Cloutier, assures that the union supports the approach of its members and that it is an initiative of the employees. ” [Les travailleuses] are really tired and I understand them. We impose a work rhythm on them… TSOs are cruel,” said Mr. Cloutier. “When we keep them in TSO, it causes drama [personnels] every time,” he added in an interview.
Mr. Cloutier was present Friday when the petition was delivered to the president and general manager of the establishment, Jean-François Fortin-Verreault. The CIUSSS did not want to comment on the approach of emergency employees.
At least 100 nurses out of a total of 113 have signed the document, the union reports. The version viewed by The Press Friday afternoon contained some 90 signatures. “It’s very majority,” said Mr. Cloutier.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, indicated on Wednesday that he had asked Mr. Fortin-Verreault and the union to explain to him why they had not yet agreed on the implementation of local schedule management, an avenue that the Minister of Health sees promise for reducing OSI.
“HMR, that’s exactly what I was explaining to you about those who have more difficulty implementing new measures,” said Mr. Dubé. “Why there are thirty hospitals that have succeeded [à implanter l’autogestion des horaires] and that we weren’t able to at HMR? he asked.
Oppositions want answers
On Twitter on Saturday, the opposition parties quickly demanded answers from Minister Dubé, whose cabinet had not yet reacted on Saturday at the time of this writing.
Parti Québécois (PQ) health critic Joël Arseneau was adamant. “Upon his arrival at the Ministry of Health, [Christian Dubé] had only for accountability. What about today ? And the minister, what responsibility does he assume in the face of all these crises? “, he wondered, calling for explanations from the Legault government.
” [Christian Dubé] says he doesn’t want to put out fires anymore. It’s valuable, but it’s a big part of his job. He can’t let situations like this continue. It is the quality of care and patient safety that is at stake,” also insisted the Liberal MP for Pontiac, André Fortin.
The CIUSSS, for its part, assured on Wednesday that the schedule self-management project is in “gradual implementation” and that the “deployment will be finalized in the coming weeks”. The establishment then indicated that “the staff shortage continues to remain an issue” and that “managers are acting, from shift to shift, to put in place all possible measures to improve the situation”.