(Montreal, November 28, 1999) 004100740020the end of a demonstration held in front of the Treasury Board offices in Quebec City, representatives of some 2,300 Quebec respiratory therapists, members of the Association professionnelle des inhalothérapeutes du Québec (APIQ) and represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (FTQ), announced they would hold a 24 hour strike on December 9 next.
The respiratory therapists 00770068006f work in every health institution in Quebec 006100720065 demanding wage parity with their nursing counterparts, a demand that is supported by an evaluation process of the jobs involved. Also, respiratory therapists see a shortage of new graduates in their field of work that can be attributed to the lack of recognition of the real value of their profession.
“It is ironic that after a 24 hour walkout at the Cité de la Santé de Laval, on November 23 last, this institution’s emergency was full of elderly patients with lung problems. The media reported this, but without saying that the people who had to work the hardest in this situation were the respiratory therapists! That must be said and we must break our silence! Our work is essential and we have the right to have it recognized, including on the salary level”, wrote APIQ President Élaine Trottier in a letter sent to all the respiratory therapists this week.
Negotiations between the respiratory therapists and the employers continued throughout the weekend and, as with other FTQ unions in the health and social services sector, some progress is being made. As part of the current process, all options are explored to reach a settlement, according to union representatives.
Information:
Élaine Trottier, cell. : (514) 238-4820
Louis Cauchy, tel. : (514) 384-9681