The union, which represents emergency medical workers, expects service disruptions if talks don’t begin with Quebec to secure a new collective agreement.
The workers, represented by the Federation of Prehospital Employees of Quebec (FPHQ), have been without a contract for nine months. The union formation assumes that if nothing is settled, some of its members will leave the profession and that it will remain difficult to attract new employees.
“We don’t have anything competitive to offer to convince the workers. Our employees are underpaid considering the skills required and the working conditions that require us to be available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day,” said Daniel Chouinard, president of the Fédération des Prehospital of Quebec, in a press release.
The union is pointing the finger at the $21.37 hourly rate, which it says is unattractive. Uncovered shifts, weeks of over 70 hours for some workers and longer response times are also denounced.
Remember, ambulance workers escort citizens who are waiting for paramedics. They also show the steps to follow and the first aid techniques to use if necessary. The employees of the Center de communication santé Laurentides-Lanaudière went on an indefinite strike on December 22 last year.