Today, several employees of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS took part in a sign installation operation to remind the Quebec government of the urgency of settling the collective agreements of some 500,000 public sector employees.
The agreements expired on March 30, 2020, and negotiations have continued throughout the summer.
“The union’s demands are realistic and pragmatic, as are the solutions to rebuild our public services now. An agreement is within reach, but the government must make the necessary effort. It is currently investing billions in infrastructures, but the time has come for it to provide decent working conditions to its employees,” declared Marc Ranger, the public sector bargaining coordinator for the FTQ and the director of CUPE Quebec, who took part in that activity.
The union is urging the government to act quickly so that all resources are deployed in anticipation of a possible second wave.
“Our members were already exhausted before the pandemic, and they’ve been working even harder in recent months. It’s time the government gave them the recognition they deserve,” declared Éric Bergeron, a CUPE union representative .
The union in question is CUPE 4475, which represents more than 5,400 category 2 employees of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS, which consists of paratechnical personnel, auxiliary services and trades. These CUPE members account for about 30% of all staff with the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS.