Public Sector Unions Reiterate that Government Must Assume Its Social Responsibilities
On December 20, spokespersons for the unions united in the Common Front announced the possibility of going on an unlimited general strike at the beginning of 2024, if the government does not demonstrate by then a political will to respond to the priorities set by workers. They said, "Given the current state of the networks, this is no time for the status quo, and even less for attacks. The sectoral tables must be given mandates to respond to the union proposals, starting today, in order to reach a global settlement. The ball is now in the government's court. Our members are mobilized and determined. We have a clear mandate to resort to unlimited general strike action to obtain the working conditions needed to put an end to the labour shortage. We will exercise this mandate if and when necessary early in the new year. What we want now, first and foremost, is to negotiate seriously." According to media reports on December 23, the government was in intensive negotiations with the Common Front.
The unions in the Common Front, representing 420,000 health care, education and social services workers, are the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), the Quebec Union Central (CSQ), the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ), and the Alliance of Health Care Professionals and Social Service Personnel (APTS).
The Federation of Education Unions (FSE-CSQ), which represents nearly 87,000 teachers, received a proposal for a sectoral (task-related) regulation on December 22, and agreed to present it to its members. President Josée Scalabrini commented: "Our mandate was to make concrete improvements to teachers' daily lives, based on our three priorities of class composition, workload reduction and remuneration. We were able to agree on a proposed settlement because we are making progress on these three elements." Teachers will be asked to vote on the agreement in the weeks following their return to the classroom after the holiday break. She added: "We must remember, however, that the problem remains unresolved with regard to the issues at the central intersectoral table. In particular, wage issues will have to be resolved to avoid an unlimited Common Front general strike in early 2024."
The Interprofessional Health Care Federation of Quebec (FIQ), which represents 80,000 health care workers, announced on December 19 that it had requested the intervention of a conciliator. "After over 75 negotiation meetings and more than a year at the bargaining table," said FIQ President Julie Bouchard, "there are still very significant differences between us and the government. Regarding fundamental issues like overtime management, ratios and compensation for inconvenient shifts, we are still light years apart. In this context, we think that appointing a conciliator could help us move toward an agreement. The government is sticking to its guns and refuses to compromise. The government's proposals do not correspond to health care professionals' needs [in any way] whatsoever, especially with regard to their need for work stability and predictability. Health care professionals are fighting for their working conditions and the public's care conditions."
On the issue of Bill 15, passed under a gag order on December 9, the FIQ said that it is "collaborating with over a hundred organizations to denounce this excessive reform, which promises to be catastrophic for the health care network. Thousands of people have asked Minister Dubé to put his reform on hold in order to assess its consequences. Nevertheless, true to form, the government has chosen to act precipitately and has passed its bill under a gag order, in an undemocratic and reckless manner."[1]
"It's already clear that 2024 won't be an easy year. However, we will remain mobilized to defend the rights of care professionals and we will continue to support a strong public health network, to which Quebeckers aspire," she added.
This article was published in
Volume 53
Number 12 - December 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/M5301210.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca