Nurses represented by the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) rejected the agreement in principle reached between their union and the Quebec government for the renewal of their collective agreements.
The 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 for 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.
The president of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, also reacted on the social network X and 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 Mr.me LeBel in his publication on X.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, also turned to the X platform to react.
“Discussions will continue. It remains that we must make the necessary changes to improve our health network and become an employer of choice,” he said. Several criticisms were made on social networks by union members, particularly on the issue of nurses’ travel and compulsory overtime.