Contrary to what the government is saying, the FIQ has been at the bargaining table since January 27!
here were two meetings at the bargaining table, one on January 27 and one on February 9, mainly to agree on a meeting schedule. The FIQ proposed 28 meeting dates in February and March. The employer party only agreed to four: February 9, February 24, March 9 and March 30, 2023. In the meantime, the government insists on having parallel discussions in a forum to which it is inviting only one representative per labour organization!
With this forum, the government wants to:
- Restrain the space necessary for discussing the solutions healthcare professionals are proposing.
- Divert negotiations to avoid having to address healthcare professionals’ specific concerns.
- Delay implementing concrete, sustainable solutions.
- Force unions to dilute their demands before negotiations even begin.
The FIQ’s negotiation structure, adopted by the delegates, states that a Negotiating Committee, composed of seven elected healthcare professionals, two political officers from the Provincial Executive Committee, and union consultants, participate in the work at the bargaining table. Furthermore, the FIQ has been mandated to negotiate all subjects at its own table, a decision that was adopted to ensure that the voice of healthcare professionals and their demands are heard at the bargaining table.
The message is clear. The FIQ is available to negotiate but at the bargaining table!