Bonjour ,
As we have already told you, the MSSS’s representatives did not give us the impression, in June 2024, that they wanted to move the negotiations forward, as they were playing a game of “one step forward, two steps back.” Following in-depth analysis of the financial proposals they tabled in June in response to our demands for salary catch-up, we can confirm to you that these would represent major rollbacks, as well as serious violations of a number of provisions of our collective agreement. And that is quite aside from the odious demand that we also pay 50% of the tuition fees charged by the universities, so as to take away with one hand what they were offering with the other, as it were.
Fortunately, before the sessions resumed in early September, there had been changes in those responsible for coordinating the negotiations on the MSSS’s side. This corresponded to a more positive tone at the negotiating table. While this change of tone is most encouraging, it did not translate into any tangible progress at the negotiating table in September. On the contrary, at the last session, proposals that walked back some texts that had already been agreed upon by the parties were tabled by the MSSS—hardly behaviour to inspire trust between the parties.
We nevertheless tried to reboot the negotiations onto a better footing, with new proposals prioritizing certain issues, including potential compromises on topics that seemed to represent stumbling blocks for the government side, particularly on pay. We made these gestures of openness in the hope that at the next bargaining session our counterparts would do likewise, so as to really bring together the parties to a potential agreement, rather than moving away us from that, as they had done with their salary proposal on June 14, 2024.
A more respectful tone at the negotiating table is all well and good, but the purpose of the negotiations is still to come to tangible proposals that also reflect respect for the work carried out by Quebec’s resident doctors.
So the ball is now in the government’s court, and two other bargaining sessions are scheduled between now and our Delegates’ Assembly meeting on Saturday, October 19. At that meeting, important decisions on the next steps in the negotiations and mobilization will be made, depending on how the upcoming bargaining sessions go.
In closing, remember that the current collective agreement continues to apply in its entirety during the negotiations, and that no changes in your work conditions may take place without written authorization from the FMRQ and its affiliated associations.
Stay tuned to your negotiations!
Your Negotiating Committee | 
