March 7, 2019

Members of the Résidence Cardinal-Vachon in Québec City, accredited with the SPSQ-FIQP since October 2017, unanimously approved their first tentative agreement on February 28. The Syndicat des professionnelles en soins de Québec (SPSQ) and the FIQ | Secteur privé–FIQP would like to highlight this important step for this new accreditation.

“Accompanying a new institution as it prepares its first collective agreement is a special moment that brings great pride,” explained Louise Quirion, SPSQ President. “We know how hard members have to work: the atmosphere has improved at the Résidence Cardinal-Vachon and negotiations went well.”

It took nine negotiation meetings to reach the agreement, which the members then approved. Prior to that, the employees’ working conditions at the Résidence Cardinal-Vachon weren’t protected by an agreement, so this will bring them many benefits. For example:

• A defined 37.5 hour work week;
• 50% pay increase on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day;
• Overtime compensation during meal times;
• 50% of the cost of practice licenses covered by the employer;
• Certified training given by professional orders paid for by the employer for 2019 (10 hours for licensed practical nurses; 20 hours for nurses).

“Given the size of the private sector in our network and the number of healthcare professionals in this sector who are still not unionized, the FIQP’s mission is clear. Healthcare professionals can count on a strong voice to advocate for their rights and to improve their working conditions,” said Sonia Mancier, FIQP President.