WATCH: Collective agreements for over half a million public-sector workers are set to expire in March. As Caroline Plante explains, Quebec’s nurses are ready to fight the government’s austerity plan.
QUEBEC CITY — A nurses’ association has filed demands with the Quebec government for the renewal of its members’ collective agreements.
On Monday, the FIQ, a union representing 65,000 healthcare professionals, asked for wage increases of 13.5 per cent and better working conditions.
Members also demonstrated in front of the National Assembly.
They asked that Quebec implement Bill 90 in its entirety.
The bill, which was passed a decade ago, allowed nurses to perform certain medical acts, such as prescribing medication and treatments for certain conditions, or adjusting medication given by a doctor.
Union representatives said that, in reality, doctors don’t always want to give up control of patients.
Nurses also would like the government to set nurse-patient ratios, as nurses are overloaded but ironically, not used to their full potential.
“We cannot afford to leave the care as it is.”
“We are professionals, we want to give professional care to our patients and we want the population to be healthier, but for that we have to have the chance to deliver the care in the proper manner,” said FIQ vice-president, Line Larocque.
The provincial Liberal Party promised Monday to work to better implement Bill 90, but the government is also trying to balance the budget by the end of the next fiscal year, and ministers reiterated they cannot afford to give out substantial wage increases.
“You all know the demands are very high,” said Health Minister Gaétan Barrette.
“As we speak, this is not something we can afford, and again, negotiations are starting today.”
“We will see.”
Collective agreements for 550,000 public-sector workers are set to expire on March 31, 2015.
Nurses said they are ready to fight the government’s austerity plan.
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