[ad_1]
The action over stalled contract talks marks the first walk-out in health care during this latest round of public sector negotiations.
Author of the article:
Article content
Unionized Quebec medical technicians and professionals on Monday launched a two-day strike to protest stalled contract talks — the first walk-out in health care during this latest round of public sector negotiations.
The Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux represents 60,000 members, including social assistance technicians, psychologists and medical imaging technicians working in health centres and youth centres.
The first round of strikes take place Monday and Tuesday, and a second round is set for June 21-22 if talks don’t progress.
Until now, education has been the only public sector service to have been affected by strikes.
Because the walk-outs are taking place in the health sector, essential services are being maintained.
Negotiations took place last Friday and during to avoid a strike.
“There was some small progress, we noticed some openness,” said APTS vice-president Robert Comeau. “But it’s far from being the basis for a deal.”
Article content
The office of Treasury Board chair Sonia LeBel said negotiations are “still continuing” with APTS, but would not comment on them. “We are confident to reach a deal quickly.”
Comeau also said he was “confident” they could reach a deal quickly.
Among the issues still on the table, according to Comeau, are retention of personnel in youth centres, floating holidays, and salaries for psychologists. It also wants a COVID-19 bonus for members working in labs and medical imaging.
The Quebec government has reached deals with the FTQ over salaries and working conditions, as well as the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE). The FTQ deal includes two per cent pay increases for each of 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23, as well as a new salary structure that would see higher increases for those at the low end.
Partial deals have been reached on working conditions with the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement and Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé (FIS), representing 76,000 nurses and auxiliary nurses, among others.
[ad_2]
Source link
