Residential and long-term care centre – Elimination of the premium that shows recognition for healthcare professionals’ work in CHSLDs—an incoherent measure at a time when there’s a workforce shortage!
The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec – FIQ finds the decision made by the Comité patronal de négociation du secteur de la santé et des services sociaux (CPNSSS) to discontinue some letters of understanding ending on March 30, 2020, absolutely incomprehensible. It deprives healthcare professionals (who work in CHSLDs or with people who have serious behavioural disorders) of premiums they are entitled to.
Considering that the government is swimming in budget surpluses and has been repeating for months that it wants to improve living standards and care in CHSLDs, it makes no sense to lower healthcare professionals’ salaries.
“This decision will clearly have a negative impact on the network, which is already undergoing a serious staff shortage. It’s a slap in the face for healthcare professionals after the government made them several promises,” explained FIQ political officers for negotiations, Roberto Bomba and Cynthia Pothier.
The FIQ had submitted a formal request for these clauses to continue to apply until the end of current negotiations.
What’s more, the employer will no longer be obliged to spend a part of its budget on professional guidance for newly hired staff, which in no way helps to attract and retain a workforce.
Additional compensation
The FIQ hopes that the Conseil du trésor will maintain the additional compensation provided for in article 7.27 B), i.e., $0.16 for each hour remunerated from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. For the time being, the Conseil du trésor has not made a statement about its position.
“The government’s message must be clear: healthcare professionals perform essential work. In the current difficult context in the health network and at a time when Quebec is facing important public health challenges, their work should be recognized and appreciated. We need everyone,” continued Mr. Bomba and Ms. Pothier.
The following are the collective agreement clauses that will be discontinued:
Letter of Understanding No. 14 Regarding professional guidance of newly hired personnel
Letter of Understanding No. 23 Regarding the employee working with clientele in a residential and long-term care centre
Letter of Understanding No. 24 Regarding the employee working with clientele presenting severe behaviour disorders