Once again, the Administrative Labour Tribunal agrees with the FIQ concerning private employment agencies
The Administrative Labour Tribunal (TAT) once again conceded that the FIQ was justified in its request to include healthcare professionals from private employment agencies in its bargaining unit. The ruling on August 9, 2017, echoes the TAT’s ruling on August 25, 2016, for a similar case.
“It’s another victory for patients and healthcare professionals. Now the CIUSSS and the Health Minister must accept the ruling and halt their legal resistance. The TAT ruling was clear: the double standard for employees in the healthcare network and those from private employment agencies does not comply with the Labour Code. Consequently, the FIQ is asking Minister Gaétan Barrette to require all health network institutions to acknowledge this decision and act accordingly,” stated Régine Laurent, President of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec – FIQ, who was accompanied by Vice-Presidents Daniel Gilbert and Linda Bouchard, as well as representatives from the FIQ union of the CIUSSS de Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
“At the FIQ, we have been fighting for years against the excessive use of independent labour. There is clear evidence that it costs the government more and that the subsequent instability generated among work teams reduces the safety and quality of patient care and safety of healthcare professionals,” added FIQ Vice-President Daniel Gilbert.
“In 2010, the FIQ persuaded the government to agree to reduce the use of independent labour by 40%. During the last negotiations, we bargained for more full-time positions for healthcare professionals in order to hire less staff from private employment agencies. Soon, local negotiations will begin in the CISSSs and CIUSSSs and it will be time to enforce the TAT’s decision. The minister and managers need to act now,” said FIQ Vice-President, Linda Bouchard.