Prime Minister François Legault describes negotiations with health sector employees as “very very difficult” who, according to him, show “almost no openness” towards requests for “flexibility” of the government. According to the President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, the expectations formulated by the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) at the negotiating table are “unrealistic”. The unions respond that the Prime Minister must “stop adding fuel to the fire”.
Although he believes that an agreement is possible with teachers on strike by Monday, Prime Minister François Legault was less optimistic for employees in the health sector, also on strike. “As far as health goes, it’s very, very difficult,” he said. There is almost no openness to giving us the flexibility that is absolutely necessary to improve health services. So, in that regard, I think things will be better in January. »
In a press scrum at the National Assembly, the President of the Treasury Board indicated Wednesday that negotiations are “more complex” with employees in the health sector, “particularly the FIQ.” “We still have, despite the repeated calls, the repeated comments that I have made on this issue, requests which would ensure that the day after the signing, [il faudrait] add thousands and thousands of employees in the health field,” said Sonia LeBel. She said, however, “don’t throw in the towel.” “It is realistic to be able to find avenues of passage and reach agreements by the end of the year. »
The comments made by François Legault caused the unions to react. In a written statement, the FIQ, which has 80,000 members, including nurses, stated that “if we want an agreement before the end of the year, it would be important for the Prime Minister to stop throwing oil on fire “. The union adds that a negotiation is “not a race to be the first to sign”. “We will not accept a cheap deal,” we conclude.
The Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS-CSN), which represents more than 120,000 workers in the network, also judges that “the Prime Minister must stop adding fuel to the fire”. “For weeks, each statement by the Prime Minister has harmed the negotiations,” said its president, Réjean Leclerc, in a press release. “It constantly distorts reality. Those who are inflexible at the table are the government. »
The FSSS-CSN “deplores the stubbornness” of the government “which wants to obtain new management powers to the detriment of staff working conditions”. The union argues that it is submitting “solutions to improve the network” to the negotiating table.
Dubé “firm” regarding work arrangements
Health Minister Christian Dubé believes that the government must be “firm” with regard to requests regarding work arrangements. “We need to lower the TSO [temps supplémentaire obligatoire], we need to reduce the independent workforce, he said at the press scrum. But for that to happen, I need arrangements where, for example, I can bring back staff from agencies [qui travaillaient auparavant dans le réseau public]but who retain their seniority [passée]. »
He also wants employees to be able, on a voluntary basis, to help out in another hospital when necessary. “Let it be very clear, yes, we are ready to increase salaries, but at the same time we must have adjustments in the organization of work,” he repeated.
According to the minister, around 500 non-urgent surgeries are postponed per day of strike. “What’s a little sad is that we ended up starting our catch-up again, we lowered our list of [patients en attente depuis] more than a year and there, I would not want us to lose all the progress we have made,” he added, specifying that he respects the right to strike.
With Alexandre Robillard