The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) submitted its counteroffer to the government on Friday evening after rejecting Quebec's latest proposal, the union president announced Sunday morning.
• Also read: “It is clearly inadequate”: FIQ rejects improved offer from Quebec
The government's latest offer, promising a 12.5% pay rise over five years, was rejected by 99% of members.
The union is lowering its salary expectations and is now demanding a 20% increase over four years.
“The flexibility the government wants is to move a nurse, an auxiliary nurse or a respiratory therapist from one department to another, so that is not the case. The results in Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec are very meaningful. Did we have about 200 resignations across Quebec without creating any attraction or retention? The answer is no!” declared FIQ leader Julie Bouchard in an interview with “Salut Bonjour” on Sunday morning, responding to the Legault government, which has been demanding more flexibility from union members since negotiations began.
Union members are also demanding “flexibility” from the government.
Ms Bouchard believes that healthcare professionals “need to have control over their working hours”.
Workers demand “to be able to take leave when they request it, to be able to see their work schedules several weeks in advance without the possibility of changing them as necessary. Hear from the managers because no replacement work was done.”
The counteroffer presented on Friday addresses issues related to cross-sectoral issues, i.e. salary, parental rights, retirement, regional inequalities.
The union chairman confirms that industry issues and working conditions are discussed “daily at the negotiating tables”.