Attacks on unions are increasing these days in the wake of the reform of our health system.
From the reader-commentator to the journalistic people, judgments against them turn out to be severe. This is not surprising knowing that the CAQ government has prepared public opinion accordingly.
For months, Mr. Dubé has blamed the unions for his inability to solve the problems and he is protecting himself against a potential failure of his reform.
Unions are not perfect, however, they should not be held responsible for all the ills that afflict the health care system.
Unfortunately, the opinions expressed about them are too often based on ignorance of their obligations and how they work.
We miss the time when most media assigned a journalist to follow the world of work and employer-union relations!
Objectivity
Patrick Lagacé’s charge against Julie Bouchard, president of the FIQ, seemed grotesque to me and it would have been useful to seek explanations for the latter’s discretion in the face of Paul Arcand.
Traditionally, the union-management parties avoid negotiations in the public arena. It seems to want to be different with the Legault government when the latter took advantage of the column of the star host to put a layer on the back of the president of the FIQ in the precincts of the National Assembly.
As if that weren’t enough, we were treated to the declamations of Dr. Lamontagne, former president of the order, who railed against unions and bureaucracy by giving us the example of Sweden.
However, he forgot to mention that the rate of unionization in this country and among its neighbors is above 70%. We have to believe that unions do not kill creativity.
As for the bureaucratic heaviness in Quebec compared to the Swedes, he omits to indicate that the administration of public services is local and regional and to count their civil servants.
Union upheaval?
Other opinions have been expressed on union jobs, releases from duties or union dues. In itself, the reform will not change anything. As in previous mergers, most officers will find their account there.
We can assume that the FIQ, the APTS and the CSN will be the labor organizations that will continue to be present in the world of health, even though they hold the majority of members in the job categories.
That mobility is national is not a disaster in itself, after all France works on this model. It should nevertheless be noted that this is a serious change in culture that goes against a current of management advocating local decision-making.
It should be understood that the Dubé reform is a cosmetic change of structure with no lasting effect on care.
I do not believe that the unions will be the cause of the foreseeable failure!