2024-09-16 19:59:06
The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) cannot ask its members to refuse to work overtime starting Thursday. This pressure tactic risks harming a service to which the public is entitled, the Administrative Labour Tribunal has ruled.
In a decision rendered Monday afternoon, the court ordered the FIQ to inform its 80,000 members that they must not stop working overtime in a concerted manner starting Thursday, as announced. Nurses will have to provide their normal work performance as usual, it added.
Administrative judge Myriam Bédard thus declared that this concerted action by the FIQ “risks causing harm or is likely to cause harm to a service to which the population is entitled.”
Last Wednesday, the Administrative Labour Court heard the complaint on this subject from the Council for the Protection of the Sick, which feared the repercussions on patients of the refusal of nurses to work overtime.
At the end of August, in order to increase pressure on the government to renew its collective agreements, the FIQ announced that it would ask its members to refuse to work overtime starting September 19.
It should be noted that the FIQ already has a strike mandate, which it could theoretically reactivate, while still providing essential services.
The Administrative Labour Tribunal had already rendered several decisions on essential services in this context. FIQ members had already walked out for a few days last November and December.
The FIQ is still studying the court’s judgment and will issue comments soon.
Proposal under consideration
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In the meantime, both sides are hoping to reach a settlement through conciliation, which resumed at the beginning of the month.
On Sunday, the conciliator on the case submitted a proposed agreement to be submitted to FIQ members.
On Monday and Tuesday, approximately 450 delegates from the various FIQ unions are meeting to study the issue.
The content of the proposal has not been revealed, with the parties keeping the scoop for the members, as is usually the case in such circumstances. But it is known that the expected mobility of nurses was the main point in dispute and the primary reason for the rejection of an initial agreement in principle by the members last spring.
Further details will follow.
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What are the implications of the Quebec Administrative Labour Tribunal’s ruling for FIQ members and patient care?
Breaking News: Quebec Administrative Labour Tribunal Orders FIQ to Halt Overtime Refusal
In a recent decision, the Administrative Labour Tribunal (ALT) of Quebec has ruled against the Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ), prohibiting its members from refusing to work overtime starting Thursday. This verdict comes as a response to the FIQ’s plan to pressure the government to renew its collective agreements by refusing to work extra hours.
The Ruling: A Blow to FIQ’s Pressure Tactic
On Monday afternoon, the ALT ordered the FIQ to inform its 80,000 members that they must not stop working overtime in a concerted manner, as announced earlier. The tribunal deemed this action likely to cause harm to a service to which the public is entitled, emphasizing the importance of maintaining normal work performance.
The Background: FIQ’s Collective Agreement Demands
The FIQ, representing Quebec’s nurses, has been negotiating with the government to renew its collective agreements. As part of its pressure tactics, the federation announced last month that its members would refuse to work overtime starting September 19, pending a resolution to their demands.
The Consequences: Patient Care at Risk
The Council for the Protection of the Sick, fearing the repercussions on patients, filed a complaint with the ALT, prompting the tribunal to intervene. The council’s concerns were echoed by the ALT, which recognized the potential harm to the public service.
A Strike Mandate Still in Place
Although the FIQ’s overtime refusal plan has been blocked, the federation still holds a strike mandate, which it could theoretically reactivate while providing essential services. This scenario is not unprecedented, as FIQ members have walked out for short periods in the past, including last November and December.
Conciliation Efforts Underway
Meanwhile, both parties are engaging in conciliation efforts to reach a settlement. A proposed agreement was submitted to FIQ members on Sunday, with approximately 450 delegates from various FIQ unions gathering to discuss the issue on Monday and Tuesday.
The Content of the Proposal Remains Under Wraps
While the details of the proposed agreement remain confidential, it is known that nurse mobility was a key point of contention and a primary reason for the rejection of an initial agreement in principle by FIQ members last spring.
The Road Ahead
As the FIQ studies the ALT’s judgment and prepares its response, the landscape for Quebec’s healthcare sector remains uncertain. One thing is clear, however: the ongoing negotiations and legal battles will have significant implications for the province’s healthcare system and the patients it serves.
Stay Updated on the Latest Developments
For further updates on this story and its impact on Quebec’s healthcare sector, continue to follow our coverage. In the meantime, share your thoughts on the FIQ’s tactics and the ALT’s ruling in the comments below.
Keywords: FIQ, Inter
What prompted the Quebec Administrative Labour Tribunal to order the FIQ to inform its members to continue working overtime?
Quebec Administrative Labour Tribunal Orders FIQ to Inform Members to Continue Working Overtime
The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) has been ordered by the Administrative Labour Tribunal to inform its 80,000 members that they must not refuse to work overtime starting Thursday, as previously announced. The court’s decision, rendered on Monday afternoon, stated that this concerted action by the FIQ “risks causing harm or is likely to cause harm to a service to which the population is entitled.”
Background of the Dispute
The FIQ, which represents healthcare professionals in Quebec, had announced that it would ask its members to refuse to work overtime starting September 19 in order to increase pressure on the government to renew its collective agreements. This decision was made following the failed negotiations between the FIQ and the government, which resulted in the rejection of an initial agreement in principle by FIQ members last spring.
Implications of the Quebec Administrative Labour Tribunal’s Ruling
The ruling by the Administrative Labour Tribunal means that FIQ members will have to continue providing their normal work performance, including working overtime, as usual. This decision is a significant blow to the FIQ’s planned pressure tactic, which aimed to highlight the need for better working conditions and compensation for healthcare professionals.
The implications of this ruling are twofold:
- Patient Care: The continued provision of overtime work by FIQ members ensures that patient care will not be compromised. The risk of harm to patients, which was the primary concern of the Council for the Protection of the Sick, has been mitigated.
- FIQ’s Bargaining Power: The FIQ’s ability to exert pressure on the government through concerted action has been curtailed. The FIQ may need to explore alternative strategies to achieve its goals, including reactivating its strike mandate, while still providing essential services.
Conciliation Efforts
Despite the setback, both sides are hoping to reach a settlement through conciliation, which resumed at the beginning of the month. A proposed agreement has been submitted to FIQ members, and approximately 450 delegates from the various FIQ unions are meeting to study the issue. The content of the proposal has not been revealed, but it is known that the expected mobility of nurses was the main point in dispute.
The FIQ is still studying the court’s judgment and will issue comments soon. Further details on the proposed agreement and the FIQ’s next steps are expected to follow.
Key Takeaways
The FIQ has been ordered by the Administrative Labour Tribunal to inform its members to continue working overtime.
The ruling ensures that patient care will not be compromised.
The FIQ’s bargaining power has been curtailed, and alternative strategies may need to be explored.
Conciliation efforts are ongoing, with a proposed agreement submitted to FIQ members.
* The content of the proposal has not been revealed, but it is known that nurse mobility was a key point in dispute.
