Public sector strike: “It even borders on insulting,” says the FIQ about Quebec’s offer

2023-12-07 19:57:58

The Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), which represents nurses in particular, considers it “very unlikely” that an agreement will be reached with the government by Monday, when its 80,000 members will begin a new four-year strike sequence. days.

The FIQ rejected by 99% on Wednesday the government’s latest offer which provides for a salary increase of 12.7% over five years. The union described it as “clearly insufficient”. “It even borders on insulting, I would say,” said FIQ president Julie Bouchard in a video posted on Facebook.

The union says Quebec’s latest wage proposal “barely covers inflation.” “The government is voluntarily forgetting the uncovered inflation for the year 2022, of 6.6%,” writes the FIQ in a press release. If we also include the withdrawal of the FIQ premium of 3.5%, there is almost nothing left, i.e. 2.6% over 5 years. »

The Federation underlines that “the government’s current offer is well below” that “made to the police (21%) and the increase voted for by deputies (30%)”.

In interview at Duty, Julie Bouchard indicates that the pace has increased at the negotiating tables. 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 cusp of an agreement,” she said. I still believe it’s possible by the end of 2023. But it’s very unlikely by the start of next week. »

When will there be a counteroffer? It will be up to the negotiating committee to decide, she replies.

According to Julie Bouchard, negotiations are failing on the salary issue, the organization of working hours, the professional-patient ratio (number of patients that nurses must take care of, for example) and the improvement of evening and night bonuses. as well as on weekends.

“We are told again and again that we cannot establish the professional-patient ratio due to the shortage, that this would cause the lack of healthcare professionals to be further exacerbated,” says She. The FIQ believes that such a ratio would “create attraction and retention” of staff, in addition to “increasing care for the population.” » “It has been demonstrated in other countries where it has been adopted,” adds Julie Bouchard.

The 80,000 members of the FIQ — nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and perfusionists — will strike from December 11 to 14. The member unions of the Common Front, which represent among others health and social services workers, will strike from December 8 to 14.