Independent Employees | Private agencies are still far from being abandoned

Health institutions in Montreal, Laval, Montérégie, Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches must first stop using independent labor (MOI) starting in October. With more than two months to go, Pres He asked them for goods.

Agency nurses at the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Montérégie-Est worked more hours this year between March 24 and July 27 compared to the same period last year: almost 59,000 hours, about 57,600 hours. However, the number of hours worked by nurse aides (17,000, compared to 31,000 last year) and beneficiaries (2,200, compared to 18,700) decreased.

The establishment says it first prioritized reducing MOI among beneficiary aides and para-nurses before “focusing on nurses”.

CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches used 1 to 10 times less assistants than agency beneficiaries.^R April and July 31 compared to the same period last year (38,800 hours compared to 3,800 hours). MOI’s nurses worked about 42,630 hours, up from 47,770 last year. The company acknowledges that this is an 11% drop from the 60% reduction target. “For most job titles, goals are met and exceeded,” we write.

At CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, agency staff worked nearly 240,600 hours (equivalent to 127 full-time positions) between 1^R April and July 31, compared with 226,000 hours (equivalent to 120 full-time positions) during the same period last year.

Agency agents filled the equivalent of 93 full-time positions between 1^R As per the data provided, April and July 31, 2024 compared to 53 in 2023.

The CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest says it has made “considerable efforts” since April to “reorganize residential accommodation with the aim of freeing itself from the MOI as part of this service”.

The Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS) of Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, for its part, says it is “confident” that it will be able to continue its operations without an independent worker from October 20. Between 1^R Between April and July 31, agency nurses worked approximately 65,250 hours, compared to 88,680 hours during the same period last year. These hours increased from approximately 13,000 to 4,700 among nurse aides, and from approximately 110,000 to 43,000 among beneficiary aides.

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Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS-CSN) president Régène Leclerc says she is “encouraged” by the decline in the use of independent labor in the public network. “But I worry about one thing: the deadline,” he notes. We must pursue the objective of abolishing private corporations. But as we approach a date when we think it will put care and services at risk, we need to make decisions aimed at protecting care and services. »

Julie Bouchard, president of Quebec’s Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), considers the current situation “alarming.” “We want to bring these healthcare professionals in ME back into the healthcare network,” he said. It is even more important to have a collective agreement that meets their needs to return to the health network. » FIQ plans to step up pressure tactics due to an “impasse” in negotiations.