No6– June 2024
One step forward, two steps back!
Monetary proposals . . . to make us poorer!
At the most recent bargaining session, held in mid-June, we moved formally to a new stage in our negotiations: the MSSS representatives finally responded with counterproposals to some of our monetary demands—which they’d nevertheless been familiar with for more than 18 months. At time of writing, we had yet to complete analysis of the proposals with our teams of experts, but it has to be said that the MSSS representatives are in no hurry to find common ground with us. These proposals are of the “one step forward, two steps back” ilk. For instance, the MSSS are offering some additional monies, but in return they’re demanding even greater monetary rollbacks, as in their new demand for members to pay 50% of the tuition fees charged by the medical faculties from now on. Our preliminary analysis of the MSSS’s proposals shows that their impact would be to reduce members’ net compensation, rather than increasing it! On top of that, the MSSS has reiterated its demands with respect to limiting members’ ability to take leave. Moreover, they’re now calling these demands “flexibility” trade-offs justifying their financial proposals, although they don’t even represent net gains for members. Let’s assume, though, that these are just negotiating ploys, and that ultimately the MSSS is merely seeking to test our members’ resolve. Starting this coming fall, then, we’ll just have to send the government the necessary message.
Tell us about any change in work conditions
In the meantime, remember, the current collective agreement continues to apply in full, and no change in your work conditions may take place without written authorization from the FMRQ and its affiliated associations. A Montérégie establishment recently learnt this to its cost after we had to have its Director of Teaching and representatives of the MSSS summoned before the Administrative Labour Tribunal (ALT). Finally, a few days before the hearing, the establishment saw reason and withdrew, in writing, its “directive” which, notably, altered the conditions for granting certain types of leave. And we’ll continue to have zero tolerance for any training site attempting to alter members’ work conditions unilaterally. As well as being illegal at the best of times, altering work conditions in mid-negotiations also constitutes interference in union affairs, and is a prohibited, bad-faith bargaining practice. So do feel free to consult your delegates, your association, or the Federation in case of doubt if you see or hear talk of such changes in conditions occurring, especially at the start of a new academic year, which is sometimes conducive to “initiatives” from staff physicians who believe they can get what they want.
Mobilization with more than 1,000 new R1s joining us soon
In a couple of weeks, as on July 1 every year, close to 25% of our number will be new members. Some of you’ll be completing your residency, and we wish you all the best as you set up in practice, and trust we can count you among the many practising physicians who are resident doctors’ allies. At the same time, nearly 1,000 new R1 members will be starting residency. Consequently, the mobilization committee has produced a poster, “Stay tuned to your negotiations! Consult the FMRQ mobile app,” which should already be up in your residents’ lounges. The poster is intended to inform all members, in particular the new members, that we’re currently in the negotiation process. Specific messages for R1s will also be sent out over the coming weeks. If you don’t see the poster in your training site, you may contact us to get hold of one.
Other tactics being prepared in support of the negotiations
Other visibility tactics will follow by summer’s end, to prepare properly for the mobilization we’ll inevitably have to carry out collectively this coming fall if we want genuine proposals from the MSSS rather than offers that would make us poorer like those tabled in mid-June.
In the meantime, Stay tuned to your negotiations, and invite all your colleagues to follow and publicize this initial mobilization theme, which is just the first of the support measures in what are shaping up to be long, difficult negotiations. You’ll be receiving more information in late summer concerning further mobilization steps. The next bargaining session is scheduled for early September.
Your Negotiating Committee | 
