After weeks of negotiations, unionized health workers in Quebec are voting on their agreement in principle with the provincial government. The vote, which began at 9 a.m. on Sunday, will continue until midnight.
The agreement in principle was reached on Friday between the government and the union representing 60,000 health workers, including nurses, orderlies, and respiratory therapists. The deal includes a 7% salary increase over three years, as well as improvements to working conditions and benefits.
The union, known as the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS-CSN), has been in negotiations with the government since last fall. The main issues at stake were salary increases and working conditions, which the union argued were necessary to address the staffing crisis in the healthcare system.
The FSSS-CSN has recommended that its members vote in favor of the agreement in principle. However, some members have expressed concerns about the length of the contract, which is only three years, and the lack of a guaranteed minimum number of full-time positions.
If the majority of union members vote in favor of the agreement, it will be ratified and become the new collective agreement for health workers in Quebec. If the vote is rejected, negotiations will continue and a strike could be possible.
The results of the vote are expected to be announced on Monday. In the meantime, both the government and the union are urging their members to vote and have emphasized the importance of this agreement for the healthcare system in Quebec.
This vote marks a significant step in the ongoing negotiations between the government and health workers. It remains to be seen whether the agreement in principle will be accepted, but one thing is certain: the outcome of this vote will have a major impact on the healthcare system in Quebec.
