Violating our rights is inhumane! The FIQ is launching a hard-hitting radio campaign
For two months now, Quebec has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare professionals, already straining under arduous working conditions, are on the front lines more than ever. The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec – FIQ is launching a hard-hitting radio campaign to send a wake-up call to the government because it’s time for it to shift gears and stop governing through ministerial orders.
Nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists continue to show up and do their job despite the government’s blatant display of disrespect. “They don’t have all of the necessary protective equipment, their vacations are cancelled, they are being forced to work full-time, their schedules are being changed, they are being transferred, and on top of that, they are being offered insufficient premiums to which few of them have access. They are giving everything they have but they are at a breaking point. Healthcare professionals are falling in battle and if their many warnings are not heeded, things will only get worse,” exclaimed Nancy Bédard, FIQ President.
Today, the Federation launched a campaign with a message for Premier François Legault, Minister of Health and Social Services Danielle McCann, as well as the whole government to let them know it’s time for them to stop thinking that healthcare workers’ devotion is limitless. Healthcare professionals cannot work at full tilt forever, it’s not humanly possible. To disregard healthcare professionals’ health and safety is to endanger all of our collective efforts against this pandemic and as a result, patients and the entire Quebec population will suffer.
“This pandemic is shining a light on all of the system’s faults, with the ongoing tragedy in CHSLDs as a prime example. The 76,000 healthcare professionals who are witnessing these fatalities can no longer tolerate being treated as mere numbers and they expect the government to come up with answers about how it will finally begin to repair the health network. But first and foremost, it is urgent that the government offer healthcare professionals rest and that it restore their rights,” said Ms. Bédard.