2023-11-14 00:39:09
Around ten psychologists from the public network, who consider themselves poorly represented by the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS) and the CSN, are filing a complaint against their respective unions with the administrative labor court.
A hearing was scheduled for Monday in Montreal, but the administrative labor court judge postponed the process to allow the plaintiffs to consult a lawyer. The initial complaints were filed in the spring, individually, by psychologists working at the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, the CISSS de l’Outaouais, and the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Island. Île-de-Montréal and the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.
Alexandre Hamel is one of the plaintiffs. The psychologist alleges that the Union of Health and Social Services Professionals and Technicians — Capitale-Nationale, affiliated with the CSN, demonstrated “serious neglect of its duty of representation” towards him. In interview at Dutyhe affirms that no demands specific to the remuneration of psychologists are found in the union negotiation schedule of the collective agreement.
“They always talk about improving the working conditions of all professionals, but do not take into account the specific nature of the needs of psychologists,” says Alexandre Hamel. They justify not putting elements specific to psychologists in the negotiation book by saying “we will resolve that while maintaining pay equity”. » Alexandre Hamel considers this strategy ineffective. “This process is long and not guaranteed,” he said. I don’t feel represented. »
They always talk about improving the working conditions of all professionals, but do not take into account the specific nature of the needs of psychologists
Alexandre Hamel emphasizes that he is “not against trade unionism” or even “against the principle of the common front”. But he believes psychologists should have their own union bargaining unit.
No reactions from the unions
Asked about the complaints to the Administrative Labor Tribunal, the APTS did not want to comment. She referred The duty to a bulletin intended for its members and providing an update on the negotiations dated May 25. It is indicated that Minister Sonia LeBel’s specific proposal for psychologists is “below current union demands”. The union says it is “working to obtain the best possible agreement.”
The CSN did not want to react either. She referred the newspaper to an open inter-union letter in which the unions ask Quebec to put an end to “pay discrimination” of psychologists in the public network by resolving pay equity complaints from 2015.
The Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network believes that the solution lies in the creation of a union specific to psychologists. According to its president, Karine Gauthier, the complaints filed with the Administrative Labor Tribunal demonstrate the need for Quebec to act in this matter. The government, she explains, must amend a law to allow psychologists to form their own negotiating unit.
“We need to get psychologists out of the current union structure,” she thinks. We have no voice at the negotiating table with the APTS, which said publicly that it was not going to accept differentiated offers. »
Karine Gauthier argues that psychologists are required to have a doctorate, unlike other professionals in the field of mental health. As they start their career later, at the end of their career they will have accumulated $300,000 less than their colleagues in the network with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “There is a huge leak towards the private sector,” she recalls.
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