Demonstration in front of the National Assembly: FIQ nurses want their voices to be heard

Thousands of members of the Quebec Professional Federation of Health (FIQ) stormed the Grande Allée on Saturday to remind the Quebec government that negotiations with health-care professionals are not over yet.

The vast majority of public sector nurses still have no agreement with the government on the renewal of collective agreements.

In the midst of the lightning negotiations, more than 3,000 members and activists gathered in front of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Quebec late in the morning. Then the latter followed suit in front of the National Assembly under trumpets and cheers.

From the beginning, FIQ President Julie Bouchard called this demonstration an “important lever” because it occurs at a pivotal period of negotiations with Quebec.

“There are still little things to tie in, but these little things are of great importance to us […] She said during a press gathering that preceded the demonstration: “These are major negotiations that have been going on for 16 months. We want to reach an agreement in principle.”

Julie Bouchard, President of FIQ in front of ASNAT during the FIQ demonstration.

Didier Debuscher/Journal de Québec

Long negotiations

A few weeks ago, members of the Common Front, composed of CSN, CSQ, APTS and FTQ, approved the tentative agreement reached with the Legault government at the end of December by 74.8%.

M^I However, Bouchard explains that FIQ would have been better off doing things more quietly, because it was still missing elements that were extremely important going forward.

“We want to ensure that when we have an agreement in principle, all healthcare professionals adhere to it to ensure that we do not have to come back later,” specifies after 16 months of negotiations, the representative representing more than 80 thousand nurses, respiratory therapists and perfusionists. Clinical.

Thousands of members wanted to send a message to the government.

Didier Debuscher/Journal de Québec

Future agreement?

Although Julie Bouchard preferred to remain discreet about the current round of negotiations, she nevertheless made it clear that she hopes to reach an agreement in the coming hours or days.

“If we cannot do this, it is because we will not have the essential element that allows us to provide quality care to the population,” says the head of FIQ.

She also stressed that implementing occupational safety/patient safety ratios will be a key element in reaching an agreement to ensure quality of care and safety for all.