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The 80,000 members of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé (FIQ) on Tuesday carried out the primary day of their 48-hour strike to protest in opposition to stalled contract talks and introduced that failing an settlement with the Quebec authorities, they’ll stroll off the job once more Nov. 23 and 24.
One of many FIQ strike days — Nov. 23 — coincides with a strike day scheduled by the widespread entrance of public sector unions, which represents one other 420,000 authorities workers.
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The FIQ, which represents nurses, respiratory therapists and different well being professionals, intends to return to the bargaining desk on Wednesday and Thursday, stated union president Julie Bouchard as she visited picket traces exterior a well being centre in Quebec Metropolis.
Bouchard added a problem to the Legault authorities as she introduced the extra strike dates, saying “That’s sufficient with making an attempt to purchase time, or saying something you need in public. Take this severely, sit down on the desk and negotiate.”
The FIQ’s strike mandate consists of the choice of a full-time walk-out. Requested if that choice was being thought-about, Bouchard replied: “If it involves that, it involves that.”
Bouchard stated the federal government was solely prepared to debate its personal priorities, not these of Quebec’s nurses.
Public sector contracts expired on March 31. Unions tabled their calls for final autumn whereas the federal government filed its proposals in December.
Aside from salaries, the FIQ is searching for laws that establishes protected nurse-patient ratios and stability in job project. The union complains the federal government desires the fitting to switch nursing personnel between well being care centres and alter their shifts at any time when vital. The FIQ contends such a coverage would cut back their membership to pawns for use as wanted.
Treasury Board president Sonia LeBel has stated a assessment of labor group is a precedence within the present negotiation.
Quebec is providing all of its public sector workers a ten.3 per cent pay increase over 5 years, a rise of 1.3 per cent over an earlier supply and one which has already been dismissed by the unions.
LeBel can also be providing a single, lump sum fee of $1000 in addition to a rise of three per cent for work that’s deemed a part of the federal government’s priorities.
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