Despite progress on some peripheral issues in negotiations over a new collective agreement for public health workers, discussions on several key issues are still reported to be stalled.
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At least that is what the President of the Association of Health and Social Services (FSSS), which is affiliated with the CSN and the Common Front, Réjean Leclerc, represents in an interview with LCN.
“It seems that we have solved certain problems in the outskirts,” he said. However, it is clear that discussions about the core of the issues, in particular the organization of working hours and the movement of personnel that the government wants to carry out according to its wishes, as well as certain bonuses, are very difficult.
“After 80 meetings, the government has not moved an iota. He absolutely does it,” he continues.
The passage of Bill 15, which centralizes operational coordination in the health network, has union members fearing the worst
“In a context where the government is voting on a bill that will give it control of all networks across Quebec through an unprecedented merger or centralization, you will understand that our members are afraid and are asking us to give them what little flexibility they have leave the one they have. namely predictability [de leurs quarts]», Explains the President of the FSSS-CSN.
“After 80 meetings, when we announce an agreement a few days before the holidays, the entire coordination of proposals and counter-proposals is all the more difficult because previous proposals were rejected to us in the “summer and this fall,” he said, adding . We want there to be a little less of the impression that the government wants to take control in all directions.”
The possibility of an unlimited general strike remains very real.
“It’s clear, yes,” says Mr. Leclerc. We have no choice but to put it this way, because in negotiations everything is often only clarified on the last night, on the last day. The less there is to negotiate, the more likely an agreement will be reached.”
However, the union says it is ready to reach an agreement in a very short time if it sees an opening from the government on the issues it considers crucial.
“At the sectoral level there are still some parts and these problems [la prévisibilité des quarts, le déplacement du personnel et certaines primes] It is estimated that we can settle in half a day or a day if the government has an opening. But you have to put in the effort, you have to trust yourself and right now trust is difficult.”
Watch the full interview in the video above