May 2, 2021

Despite what the premier said in his press briefing after the meeting with union leaders, the president of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ, Nancy Bédard confirms that she did not receive an improved salary offer. Currently, only the 5% salary increase over three years is on the table.

At the meeting, the FIQ president reminded the premier and president of the Treasury Board that she was ready to reach an agreement today if our settlement offer submitted three weeks ago is accepted. If today’s meeting was meant to advance negotiations, the government should come forward tomorrow to reach an agreement that will turn things around and tackle the serious healthcare professional shortage in the health network.

“Time is running out. Everyone knows there is a serious healthcare professional shortage in the health network. There are bed closures and service interruptions in almost every institution. With our sectoral tentative agreement, there aren’t 36,000 more solutions for the government to put things right. It takes salaries that show recognition for the professional level of responsibility, expertise, and accountability of our members. The approved salaries must also be competitive with those offered by private agencies. Moreover, it would be unthinkable for the government to abandon remote communities, especially the Far North and Abitibi-Témiscamingue. We must use all leverage, regardless of the cost, to convince healthcare professionals to stay in the public system or come back to it. With this in mind, our offers are more than reasonable. The government is at 6.4% of a proposed agreement with the FIQ, with the essential enhancements for providing care in remote regions. The ball is in its court.”

Nancy Bédard, présidente, Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ

The government must improve its initial offer on salaries and regional disparities so that the FIQ can present a global agreement to its members.