Info-négo from the Federal Council on April 29, 2024

Your Negotiating Committee returns to the bargaining table

Yesterday was the first Special Federal Council since the members rejected the tentative agreement in the vote on April 10-11-12, 2024. This meeting  was an opportunity for your union representatives to pool the comments gathered from their members over the last few weeks.

The exchanges led to a strong consensus on what is missing to conclude these negotiations. If the government really wants to become an employer of choice, it should:

• Offer stability to the healthcare professionals and respect their expertise;
• Improve the healthcare professionals’ working conditions on an equal basis for both part-time and full-time employees. The employer party must understand the diversity of the realities for FIQ members;
• Improve access to overtime at double time on weekends, for part-time employees and for those who work 12-hour shifts;
• Rectify the monetary loss from the removal of the FIQ premium granted to healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Recognize the various roles and responsibilities in the remuneration for licensed practical nurses and respiratory therapists in relation to the remuneration of beneficiary attendants.

This Wednesday, May 1, the Negotiating Committee will return to the table to present this mandate and resume discussions with the employer party.  At the same time, pressure tactics in the field will gradually resume: member participation and mobilization therefore remain essential.

During the referendum vote on the tentative agreement, the members expressed their views: the employer party can no longer close their eyes to the healthcare professionals dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, this will not prevent the government from continuing to defend its own priorities in these negotiations, and it would be surprising if it systematically abandoned each of them. The Negotiating Committee, union delegates as well as the members will have to work together to find solutions and reach an agreement.

Stay tuned for further information from your local union team.