(Montreal) Nurses represented by the FIQ have rejected an agreement in principle between their union and the Quebec government to renew their collective agreements.
The Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) held three days of referendum voting, which ended at 11:59pm on Friday after holding several regular meetings of its members to inform them of the agreement in principle.
Quebec's largest nurses union indicated on its Facebook page that 61% of union members who voted rejected it and 77% voted in favor.
The FIQ represents more than 80,000 members in Quebec, the largest number of nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists. It recommended that its members vote in favor of the deal in principle, which was concluded after 15 months of negotiations and days of strike action.
Union members have made several criticisms on social networks, particularly on the issue of nurses' travel and compulsory overtime.
FIQ president, Julie Bouchard, called the media to a press conference at 11am on Saturday to comment on the decision of its members.
Photo by Martin Chamberland, Law Press Archives
FIQ President Julie Bouchard (right) at an exhibition in Montreal in March 2023
The President of the Treasury Board, Sonia Lebel, also responded on social network X and said that “FIQ members note that they reject the agreement in principle”.
“We are going to meet with the union to understand what is wrong. However, the context and our objectives remain the same, especially in terms of flexibility,” pointed out Mr.me Lebel in his tweet.
Health Minister Christian Dubey also took to the X platform to respond.
“Discussions will continue. We must make the necessary changes to improve our health network and become an employer of choice,” he said.
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