(Montreal) Several unions demonstrated in front of the Saint-Hyacinthe Convention Center, in Montérégie, where the general council of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) took place on Saturday.
The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) was notably present. The union is demanding better working conditions and wages for its workers.
“The healthcare professionals who hold the healthcare network at arm’s length […] are exhausted, they are fed up,” said Roberto Bomba, treasurer of the FIQ, in an interview.
“Mr. Legault, we must recognize the expertise of people in care [qui sont] mostly women,” continued Mr. Bomba, present at the demonstrations which began around 11:30 a.m. and ended shortly before 2 p.m.
In a press release, the FIQ indicated that its members wish to “remind the CAQ deputies that they still do not have an agreement in principle.”
An agreement in principle was reached between the union and the government in April, but the members refused it.
The union therefore wants the government to bring concrete solutions to the negotiating table.
“We cannot be clearer than that, things must change,” declared Mr. Bomba, who underlined in passing that pressure tactics would intensify in the coming weeks and that the FIQ would demonstrate “all summer “.
Roberto Bomba also said that healthcare workers do not feel listened to by the government.
The president of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, responded in a written statement that “the government must respect Quebecers’ ability to pay, be fair to other union members and have collective agreements that allow quality care to be offered” .
She stressed that “balanced agreements were reached with the Common Front” thanks to “flexibility” on the union side.
“We had a similar agreement with the FIQ, but it was rejected. Currently, the FIQ is coming back to the table with requests that call into question this flexibility and in addition, it adds other salary requests,” declared Mr.me LeBel.
The FIQ brings together more than 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
Other unions present
The Quebec Public and Parapublic Service Union (SFPQ), the Confederation of National Unions (CSN) and the Quebec Government Professional Union (SPGQ) also demonstrated at the Saint-Hyacinthe Convention Center.
The SFPQ wanted to be heard in the context of the renewal of the collective agreement of its 26,000 members, the majority of whom occupy office and technical jobs in Quebec ministries and organizations.
“For months, the CAQ government has been slowing down the progress of negotiations. Our demands are nevertheless reasonable: fair salary conditions which take into account the offers to groups of public sector union members, as well as the job market and inflation. By refusing again and again to recognize the need to promote public service jobs, this government demonstrates its lack of respect for our members and the work they accomplish,” said the general president of the SFPQ, Christian Daigle, in a communicated.
The SPGQ, without a collective agreement for more than a year, agrees. “Our members have shown patience, but this has limits. It is time to conclude an agreement for the renewal of their collective agreement,” said Guillaume Bouvrette, president of the SPGQ, in a press release. He says the group has “proposed concrete solutions to resolve the impasse.”
The members of the CSN, for their part, want to express their opposition to the reform of the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and to the privatization of the health network.