Despite months of negotiations and a strike threat earlier in the year, a gap still separates the main nurses' union and the Legault government. If the question of class structure is central to the FAE indefinite strike, here is a summary of what divides the parties in the health sector.
12.7% in 5 years or 20% in 4 years?
In its latest plan, Quebec offers a 12.7% salary increase over five years. We are far from the 20% in four years requested by the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ).
The union has demanded a 6 percent salary hike from the 1stR Last April, it increased by 4% in 2023 and 2024 and 3% in the next two years.
FIQ requires salaries to follow inflation if the occasional cost-of-living increase exceeds this increase.
Bonus withdrawal, increased
In addition, the union is also demanding an increase to 6% from 3.5% in the recognition bonus awarded until recently to nursing and cardiology staff.
But Quebec withdrew the bonus last October. The Treasury Board considered this a temporary bonus in recognition of nurses' work in resuming operations after the pandemic. FIQ saw it as differential pay to attract and retain nursing staff.
Salary increased by 50% on weekends
FIQ believes that working weekends at Health Network entitles you to a 50% increased salary.
At present, a nurse gets a bonus of 4% or 8% depending on the situation.
While recognizing that the request was important, FIQ's president Julie Bouchard confirmed in early December that she wanted to maintain it “until the end”.
Extra time
According to the FIQ, Quebec now requires that only hours worked in excess of 37.5 hours per week be paid as overtime, double time. Thus, a nurse on the second evening shift is paid at the straight rate if the total hours do not exceed a normal work week.
In addition to holiday accrual, the union is demanding overtime pay at double or time-and-a-half.
Quebec is asking for more flexibility
The Legault government recognizes that negotiations in the health sector are very difficult. “There is almost no transparency to give us the flexibility that is absolutely necessary to improve health services. So, on that side, I think things will be better in January,” Prime Minister François Lecoult recently announced.
According to Sonia Lebel, chair of the Treasury Board, FIQ's demands are “unrealistic” and would “require thousands and thousands of workers to be added to the health sector.”
