(Montreal) Nurses represented by the FIQ have rejected the agreement in principle concluded between their union and the government of Quebec for the renewal of their collective agreements.
The Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) organized a referendum vote over three days, which ended at 11:59 p.m. Friday, after holding several general meetings of its members to inform them of the content of the agreement in principle.
This was rejected by 61% of union members who voted. The participation rate of members was 77%, indicated the largest nurses’ union in Quebec on its Facebook page.
The FIQ represents more than 80,000 members, the vast majority of nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists in Quebec. It recommended that its members vote in favor of this agreement in principle, concluded after 15 months of negotiations and days of strike.
Several criticisms were made on social networks by union members, particularly on the issue of nurses’ travel and compulsory overtime.
The president of the FIQ, Julie Bouchard, called the media to a press conference on Saturday, at 11 a.m., to comment on the decision of its members.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
FIQ president Julie Bouchard (right) during a demonstration in Montreal in March 2023
The President of the Treasury Board Sonia LeBel, for her part, said she took “note of the rejection of the agreement in principle by the members of the FIQ”.
“We are going to meet with the union to understand what is wrong. However, the context and our objectives will remain the same, particularly in terms of flexibility,” indicated Sonia LeBel in a brief statement.