August 7, 2014

I am addressing this note to the FIQ union representatives who waged an exemplary campaign during the change of union allegiance period which has just ended.

This period for changing union allegiance, like all the other ones, was not easy. However, if raiding can be exhausting and cause a lot of tension in the field, don’t forget that it is also an essential step in democracy for a labour organization. It is a unique opportunity for unionized workers to reconfirm their union allegiance or still, for some, to question it, in order to make the necessary choices to have the best possible representation for the negotiation of their next collective agreement.

Thanks to your patience, your tenacity and the maturity of your actions, the big family of the FIQ now represents nearly 65,000 members. That makes our organization the largest labour force in the health network. This gain means a lot to me. First, it reminds me, once again, that I made the right choice 5 years ago in accepting to be the president of the FIQ. It also convinces me that the work we accomplish together, every day, is what is expected from us. But, even more important, I am now certain that our attitude, our vision and the leadership that we have long shown is probably the only good way to change things through union action.

While other labour organizations were coming up with ways to try to discredit us, to attack our record and sought, by whatever means, to point out our flaws, you held the line. You resisted the temptation to play their game and you held to a positive, constructive and factual campaign all the while demonstrating exemplary union ethics.

For all of these reasons, I would like to thank you and tell you just how proud I am of you and that I feel honoured to be your spokesperson. You can now give yourselves a few days of well-deserved rest. Especially since the fall is already looking to be very active.