After months of strikes, Quebec’s nurses’ union says it has reached a “historic” agreement in principle with the Quebec government over working conditions.
In a news conference in Montreal Saturday morning, the Fédération interprofessionnelle de santé du Québec (FIQ) said it now hopes to hear of an agreement “as soon as possible” on wages and pensions, issues that are being debated at a different negotiating table.
FIQ President Régine Laurent said its negotiators managed to make several key gains, particularly regarding premiums paid to professionals, a contentious issue in the talks.
The ratio of nurses per patient was also under review.
The FIQ has also reached an agreement with Quebec to increase the number of full-time jobs available for nurses, nursing assistants and respiratory therapists.
The deal will provide more full time positions offered across the spectrum. The amount of full time positions for registered nurses, for example, will go from 50 to 62 per cent.
They say this will help not only create a more stable work environment but also improve patient care.
The FIQ had to make some concessions as well, since the government told them they didn't want to increase costs to the healthcare system.
“So how are we going to finance this? Clearly with a reduction of overtime. A reduction of forced overtime and also a reduction of private agency personnel which is currently being used in the health care system,” said FIQ treasurer Roberto Bomba.
Laurent said negotiations had been “difficult.” The FIQ had stormed out of negotiations in September, saying that the government's offers were unsatisfactory, and resorted to a campaign of pressure tactics and some strikes.
FIQ delegates will meet on December 8 and 9 to vote on the agreement.
Their leadership is encouraging the 66,000 nurses to vote for it, saying the agreement bodes well for their salary dispute with the government.
Salary and retirement talks are still ongoing and the FIQ is optimistic that given the deal they've struck on working conditions these other issues will be resolved soon.
On the heels of their news conference, Barrette also spoke to media and he too used the word “historic” in terms of this agreement, saying that it was good news for all Quebecers.
He did not provide details, nor did he speak of the ongoing salary talks, but said he spoke to Treasury Board President Martin Coiteux Saturday morning and is optimistic there may be some more good news in the coming weeks.
“I'm not expecting those discussions to get to Christmas for instance, but again as I said discussions are ongoing as I said and I hope they will be successful. But clearly today was a great day. Nurses are a significant group a major group and we have a very satisfactory agreement,” he said.
With files from La Presse Canadienne
