Nurses reject another government offer

Nurses represented by the Inter-Health Federation (FIQ) have once again rejected an offer from the government, almost a week before the two-day strike.

• Read also: Brutal demonstration by FIQ in front of Minister Dube’s offices

• Read also: The common front: “The show that shows the government is serious,” believes Sonia Lebel

The government’s fourth offer on Sunday, which was described as “disappointing, insufficient and insulting”, was rejected by FIQ delegates on Wednesday, the union announced late in the afternoon.

“This proposal shows the government’s lack of respect for a workforce that is predominantly made up of women,” FIQ President Julie Bouchard protested in a press release.

The union is particularly concerned about the government’s desire to be able to move staff from one organization or department to another while relegating nurses’ preferences and experiences to the background.

“Minister LeBel says she does not want to force anyone to travel for their shift, but that is not what we were told at the negotiating table. The administrative side confirms that it will start by requesting volunteers. If not “You find nothing or if you don’t find enough, you will force the move.”

Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel indicated on Sunday that she had made an offer that included an overall salary increase of 15%. “We hope to get constructive feedback from the unions moving forward,” she added.

Limited strike

FIQ organized a large demonstration in front of the office of Health Minister Christian Dube on Monday in La Prairie. Its roughly 80,000 members must now go on strike for two days, on November 8 and 9, to increase pressure on the government.

The union received a mandate from its members allowing it to go so far as to launch an indefinite strike. It should be noted that since healthcare is an essential service, guidelines have been put in place to determine which employees can strike and for how long.

Staff will have to provide normal service in emergency and intensive care departments, but, for example, only 70% of the planned hours will be provided in operating rooms, while 85% of the service will now be in care units such as pediatrics, dialysis or oncology. With radiation.