End of “sit-ins” in Maisonneuve-Rosemont: nurses insulted by an internal note

2023-05-04 16:54:01

The nurses at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital are angry and insulted by the sending of an internal memo from the management which wants to put an end to the “sit-ins”.

As of tomorrow Friday, any “sit-in” will be prohibited in hospitals and CHSLDs, advises the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of the East-of-the-island-of-Montreal, we read in a memo sent on May 2 to employees.

“If a “sit-in” occurs, we will appeal to the administrative labor tribunal, which has the power to intervene. First in conciliation, then to order the return to work of the staff under penalty of contempt of court, ”we read.

angry employees

“It’s the anger in the hospitals, reacts Denis Cloutier, president of the local union of CISSS nurses. We see that as an insult. (…) When the nurses sit-in, it’s always the same reason. It’s for another heavy workload that doesn’t ensure patient safety. »

Photo MARTIN ALARIE

Denis Cloutier, president of the local nurses’ union at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital

Since they provide an essential service, nurses cannot leave their post at the end of their shift, if no one is available to replace them.

Compulsory overtime is therefore often used to compensate for the lack of employees.

In the internal memo, management recalls that this means of pressure is illegal. It is also explained that the CISSS will assess, on a case-by-case basis, the possibility of establishing other administrative, disciplinary, legal and ethical measures for any person participating in a sit-in.

“It’s downright threats,” laments Mr. Cloutier.

Asked regarding this, the hospital’s communications department explains that this memo was sent in response to other court decisions on “sit-ins” that have occurred in other hospitals in recent months.

“Indeed, it is essential to prevent the services to which the population is entitled from being compromised. This is what guides us in our desire to act to put an end to the “sit-ins”, writes the management.

Not the right tone

However, management acknowledges that the tone used in the internal memo was not appropriate. It is added that there has been no sit-in recently in the CISSS hospitals (Maisonneuve-Rosemont and Santa Cabrini).

The situation has been tense at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital emergency room for a long time, in particular due to a shortage of staff. Last January, the nurses had demonstrated and threatened to resign en bloc, since they demanded the resignation of a manager. They also deplored dangerous ratios. Management even had to close the emergency room.

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