The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) will be back at the negotiating table: its members rejected on Friday the agreement in principle concluded between their union and the government of Quebec for the renewal of their collective agreements.
The president of the FIQ, Julie Bouchard, admitted to being “disappointed” by the massive rejection of this agreement. “But if there are more than 60,000 people who tell us that something is missing, we have no choice but to roll up our sleeves,” she added during a press briefing held Saturday morning.
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.
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.
This was rejected by 61% of union members who voted and the participation rate was high with 77% of members who voted, according to what the largest nurses union in Quebec indicated on its Facebook page. . A total of 66,000 healthcare professionals exercised their right to vote.
Working conditions, concedes the president of the union, must reflect the conditions of care.
The message could not be clearer.
Julie Bouchard, president of the FIQ
This high participation rate means that workers are still mobilized and “exhausted from paying the price for bad decisions,” she added.
Several criticisms were made on social networks by union members, particularly on the issue of nurses’ travel and compulsory overtime.
The next few days will be used to take the pulse of union members in order to be aware of their needs and to clearly understand the reasons for this massive refusal of the agreement.
“For us it is important to understand the central issues behind this refusal,” said Ms.me Bouchard.
Discussions with the government will continue on Sunday evening, she said.
Government reactions
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 tweet.
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.
Currently, the prospect of a general strike is not on the table, explained Julie Bouchard. The union first wishes to consult its members. “If we are told to go on strike, we will go that far. But for the moment we are not using these pressure tactics at all,” explained the president.