The approximately 80,000 members of the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) voted 95% in favor of a strike that will take place on November 8th and 9th.
After a long day of consultations on Wednesday, in which at least 70% of members expressed their opinions, according to TVA Nouvelles, the FIQ received a strike mandate that could go as far as an indefinite strike.
“It is a strong mandate to tell the government that the proposals we are receiving at the negotiating table are unacceptable. […] “Let the managers prepare: the strike is just around the corner,” FIQ President Julie Bouchard said in a press release.
In particular, the union objects to the government’s desire to be able to move staff within the network as needed by moving employee history to the second point.
The association also calls for a ratio between the number of nursing staff and patients as well as significant salary increases in order to curb the migration of nursing staff from the public to the private sector.
“Gone are the days when we could impose conditions on medical professionals that other workers, men, would refuse. We want to maintain our fair value that reflects our expertise,” said Ms. Bouchard.
Essential Services
According to a ruling by the labor court, nurses are obliged to provide normal services in emergency and intensive care units despite their strike.
On the other hand, several departments have to forego valuable nursing hours. This means that only 70% of the planned hours are offered in operating theaters (80% after six days of strike), while 85% of the service is now provided in nursing wards such as pediatrics, hemodialysis or radiation oncology.
The government and the FIQ have already held dozens of negotiations and brought in a mediator to try to resolve the impasse – without success.