The Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), which represents nursing staff in particular, believes it is “very unlikely” that an agreement will be reached with the government by Monday, when its 80,000 members begin a new series of strikes over four years.
The FIQ on Wednesday rejected by 99% the government’s latest offer of a 12.7% pay rise over five years. The union described it as “clearly inadequate”. “It even borders on insulting, I would say,” FIQ President Julie Bouchard said in a video posted on Facebook.
The union says Quebec’s latest wage proposal “barely covers inflation.” “The government voluntarily forgets the uncovered inflation for 2022 of 6.6%,” writes the FIQ in a press release. If you add the withdrawal of the FIQ premium of 3.5%, there is almost nothing left, namely 2.6% over 5 years. »
The association emphasizes that “the government’s current offer is significantly lower” than “the increase submitted to the police (21%) and the increase decided by MPs (30%)”.
In an interview with Le Devoir, Julie Bouchard suggests that the pace at the negotiating tables has increased. The days are “very long” and the nights “very short”. “Now we are still very far from being able to say that we are on the threshold of an agreement,” she said. I still believe it is possible by the end of 2023. But it’s very unlikely until early next week. »
When is there a counteroffer? The decision will be left to the negotiating committee, she replies.
According to Julie Bouchard, the negotiations fail on the salary issue, the organization of working hours, the skilled worker-patient ratio (e.g. number of patients that nursing staff have to look after) and the improvement of evening and night allowances on weekends.
“We are constantly told that due to the shortage of skilled workers, we cannot implement the ratio between professionals and patients as this would further exacerbate the shortage of healthcare professionals,” She says. The FIQ assumes that such a relationship would not only “improve care for the population” but also “increase the attractiveness and retention” of staff. » “It has shown itself in other countries where it has been adopted,” adds Julie Bouchard.
FIQ’s 80,000 members – nurses, nurses, respiratory therapists and perfusionists – will strike from December 11th to 14th. The Common Front’s member unions, which represent health and social care workers, among others, will stand down from December 8th to 14th.