The Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) is resuming its pressure tactics “now” and will maintain them “as long as necessary”. The union of more than 80,000 members, which resumed negotiations with the government almost two weeks ago, made the announcement Thursday morning. The strike is not ruled out, he points out.
The FIQ, which represents nurses in particular, maintains that negotiations with Quebec are stalling. Only two meetings have taken place since the union said it was ready to return to the table about two weeks ago, indicates its vice-president and co-responsible for negotiations, Jérôme Rousseau. According to the FIQ, the management party “remains firm in its positions” regarding the “mobility” of employees from one unit to another or from one installation to another. The authorities agreed this week to increase pressure to “get the government to come to the table”.
“It is the request of our members to be seen, to be heard by the government,” said Jérôme Rousseau. The strike is still part of the equation. Our members told us about it. They’re ready to go there. But for the moment, we are going there gradually. »
The main point of dispute remains the “mobility” of staff. “We really want the government to clarify its needs, particularly on the question of flexibility and flexibility,” says Jérôme Rousseau. Mr. Dubé says things in the public space, but at the negotiating table, the government does not give us a clear answer as to what exactly its need is. » The FIQ believes that the changes requested by the Minister of Health “could downright undermine the safety of care”.
FIQ union members rejected by 61% the agreement in principle concluded between Quebec and their union during a referendum vote held two weeks ago. In some areas, opposition was even stronger. At the McGill University Health Center, union members voted 89% against the agreement. This percentage rose to 80% at the Union of Healthcare Professionals of the East Island of Montreal.
The previous agreement in principle would have allowed health establishments to create “activity centers” bringing together units or facilities in their territory. The employer could thus have moved healthcare professionals from one location to another, at a maximum distance of 25 km from the employee’s home port (35 km in the region).
To watch on video