(Montreal) Nurses represented by FIQ have rejected the initial agreement between their union and the Quebec government to renew their collective agreements.
The Federation of Professional Health (FIQ) organized a referendum on the vote over three days, which ended at 11:59 pm on Friday, after holding several general meetings for its members to inform them of the content of the agreement in principle.
This was rejected by 61% of the union members who voted, and the participation rate was high, with 77% of members voting, according to what the largest nurses union in Quebec indicated on its Facebook page.
The FIQ represents more than 80,000 members, the vast majority of whom are nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists in Quebec. It recommended that its members vote in favor of this agreement in principle, which was reached after 15 months of negotiations and days of strike.
Many criticisms were made on social networks by union members, especially regarding the issue of nurses' travel and mandatory overtime.
FIQ President Julie Bouchard invited the media to a press conference on Saturday at 11 a.m. to comment on the decision of its members.
Photo by Martin Chamberland, Press Archive
FIQ President Julie Bouchard (right) during a demonstration in Montreal in March 2023
Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel also responded on the social media network
“We will meet with the union to understand what is wrong. However, the context and our goals will remain the same, especially regarding flexibility.”I LeBel in his tweet
Health Minister Christian Dube also took to the X platform to respond.
“Discussions will continue. It remains for us to make the changes necessary to improve our health network and become an employer of choice.
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