Nurses: FIQ to negotiate this summer; tentative settlement with FSQ

Negotiations between the FIQ and Quebec are not at a standstill; in fact, they will continue this summer, the two parties confirmed on Thursday.

“Negotiations are continuing with the FIQ and will continue this summer. Our teams are and will be available,” said the office of the Treasury Board President, Sonia LeBel.

The FIQ represents 80,000 nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, and clinical perfusionists. They returned to the bargaining table after its members rejected the agreement in principle reached with Quebec for the renewal of collective agreements.

Negotiations are continuing, with dates set for June and July, confirmed by the Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la Santé (FIQ).

The FIQ had come up with five demands, following the rejection of the agreement in principle by its members.

The most contentious issue remains the expected mobility of nurses — what the FIQ calls the forced movement of nurses from one care unit to another, or even from one institution to another.

Facility managers say they need more flexibility on their part to move nurses from one unit or facility to another to meet needs.

But for nurses, they say this is similar to denying their expertise and treating them like pawns. They insist on voluntary travel, even if it means making it worthwhile through bonuses.

Tentative settlement with the FSQ

While waiting to reach an agreement with the FIQ, Quebec recently succeeded in concluding a tentative settlement with the CSQ-affiliated Fédération de la santé (FSQ). This is the union organization that represents the largest number of nurses after the FIQ, i.e. 5,000.

An intermediary body of the FSQ is due to meet on July 2 to study this proposed settlement and decide whether it will be put to a vote by the membership.

The FSQ represents nurses on the North Shore, where Quebec sent a rapid response team due to a lack of personnel on site.

Quebec claims that the proposed settlement with the FSQ, if implemented, “would not only help improve working conditions, but would also stabilize teams and enhance the value of full-time positions.”

“It would propose a paradigm shift in terms of work organization and improved service offering during unfavorable shifts,” adds the Treasury Board.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews