Lia Lévesque, The Canadian press
MONTREAL – While Quebec wants to present differentiated offers for some job titles where recruitment is more difficult, APTS has just presented its requests to improve the working conditions of all its members in factories, health, youth centers and other.
The labor shortage doesn’t just affect nurses, said Josée Fréchette, first vice president of the Alliance of Professional and Technical Staff in Health and Social Services (APTS) on Thursday.
“If the government is to improve health and social services and curb the exodus of its workers from the network, the quality of life at work must be improved. And this applies to all people, “Ms Fréchette said in an interview.
And if Quebec insists on favoring certain job titles, as it did for the beneficiary orderlies during the last negotiation? “We must recognize everyone”, replies Mrs. Fréchette.
APTS particularly represents psychologists and social workers in youth centers, where the workload is heavy and recruitment difficult.
Requests
The Alliance says, for example, to bring forward access to a fifth week of vacation. “People are four weeks old when they start, but it takes 25 years to see a fifth week of vacation,” explained Ms Fréchette, adding that her members need “air and rest”.
It also claims an improvement in evening, night and weekend bonuses.
Other requests include training for employee skills development and reimbursement of membership of a professional body when members are required to join.
The APTS also wants some amounts to be raised to account for inflation, such as the allowance for meals to be eaten outdoors.
The trade union organization represents 65,000 members who hold 108 job titles in rehabilitation, diagnosis, psychosocial intervention, prevention and nutrition.
The APTS is part of the common front, together with the CSQ, the CSN and the FTQ. Last week he presented his “common” requests, that is, those relating to salaries and pensions, for example.
In terms of wages, the common front calls for the consumer price index (CPI) plus 2% or $ 100 per week for the first year, the CPI plus 3% for the second year and the CPI plus 4% for the third year of collective agreements.
