The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, reproached the union representatives on Tuesday for undermining his efforts to recruit personnel by seeking above all to satisfy their own interests. He conceded in the same breath that he was going to ease the many restrictions associated with the attraction bonuses offered by the government.
“I’m going to tell you my bottom line today. […] I will perhaps be a little harsh on the unions, ”said the minister at the outset.
Mr. Dubé then attacked union representatives for trying to broaden access to staff attraction and retention bonuses “for those who are [en] union liberation ”. “It is more their priority to have access to this bonus whereas the intention of our bonuses was for the nurses who are on the ground treating patients,” he complained.
This is false, then replied five health unions. “Minister Dubé suggests that we only have it for union leaves, although this subject was not discussed during recent meetings with the [ministère] », Wrote the FSQ-CSQ, the FIQ, the FSSS-CSN, the SQEES-FTQ and the CUPE. “The minister seems to want to find a culprit for the difficulties he encounters in recruiting staff,” they also wrote.
“The plan does not work, launched at the Blue Salon the solidarity deputy Vincent Marissal, also accusing the government of looking for the culprits. “Two weeks ago it was family doctors. There, today, it is the union delegates. Tomorrow, I imagine patients will be blamed for being sick. “
In response to a question from PQ MP Joël Arseneau, the premier said 300 delegates were looking to secure the bonus for themselves. “I know that the Parti Québécois is close to the unions. I would like to know, are they suggesting that we give the $ 15,000 to these 300 union members? “Asked François Legault.
A common outing disturbed him
Still at a press briefing, Minister Dubé declared that a joint exit from the unions had encouraged him to speak about this affair publicly. On Monday, five union organizations representing nurses – FIQ, CSQ, FSSS, CUPE, SQEES – united to demand the end of the government by ministerial decrees.
“When I hear their press briefing yesterday [lundi] where there is no mention of the aspect of the union delegation, I think that at some point we have to set the record straight, ”he said. The minister then asked the union representatives to “rise above their personal interests” and “help us find staff”. “I can not say that we had their attention for compulsory vaccination in health,” he also stressed.
On the merits, Christian Dubé nevertheless said he was open to relaxing the many conditions associated with staff attraction and retention bonuses. “We had at least three meetings last week. We said that we were very open to adjustments, ”particularly with regard to unpaid leave, he said. In its current formula, the Ministry of Health’s premium application guide provides that a single day without pay results in a full refund of premiums.
“Tomorrow or in the next few days, we’ll make some corrections. We would have liked better to discuss it and get approval from the union, but it doesn’t really seem like it was in their cards to accept the changes we want to make. So we will come back as if it were a decree and then we will say: here are the changes we are suggesting, ”the Minister concluded.
In response, the unions wrote that the minister had “visibly […] not aware of the many solutions put forward by the unions ”. “We offer solutions without coercive, ‘disqualifying’ and unfair measures for members. Rather than engage in exchanges and discussions allowing the rapid implementation of measures, the government refused to give us a feedback, ”they wrote.
As of November 4, the ministry said it was in discussion with 3,721 people interested in helping out in the health network. A total of 102 people who were retired and 762 independent labor resources came forward. In addition, there are 2,713 people who worked part-time and have switched to full-time.