Negotiations in the health sector are “very difficult,” Quebec Prime Minister François Legault reported on Wednesday, even citing January as the deadline for an agreement.
Two major healthcare unions, FIQ and APTS, both confirm that negotiations have been difficult.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister criticized the fact that in the health sector there was “almost no openness from the unions to give us the flexibility that is absolutely necessary”.
He did not specify which health unions he was referring to.
FIQ: “AT A SNAIL’S PACE”
The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé (FIQ), which represents 80,000 nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists, painted a bleak picture of their negotiations.
“The work at the negotiating table is progressing at a snail’s pace, management is not at all receptive,” summarized Stella Larochelle, nurse and member of the FIQ negotiating committee, in a video sent to its members.
Make decisions among members
On the side of APTS, a member of the cross-union group Common Front, whose members work in health and social services, vice-president Josée Fréchette confirmed that “negotiations with the government are difficult; she always brings back her suggestions to us.” his demands.
The Alliance du personal professionalnel et Technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS), for example, demands that its members’ professional contributions be reimbursed. The group includes speech therapists, physiotherapists and nutritionists.
“They tell us: We can’t give you your entire request, so you decide who we give it to,” Fréchette explained.
“It is difficult when every time we make a proposal it is rejected or we are asked to choose between our members. We represent 108 job titles. We can’t make decisions and prioritize members.”
“Travel aficionado. Twitter scholar. Writer. Extreme coffee guru. Evil pop culture fanatic.”