Which work conditions apply during the negotiations?

Although the current collective agreement expired in 2021, its provisions continue to apply until such time as a new agreement is reached, and this includes the grievance filing process in the event of disagreements on the application of the provisions.

At no time may employers alter resident doctors’ work conditions without the formal written agreement of the FMRQ and the affiliated associations concerned. But provisions of the Labour Code also specifically provide for work conditions to be “frozen” during collective agreement negotiations, with specific recourse against any violation that could constitute a form of impediment to the negotiations or a bad-faith bargaining practice. We invite members who observe such unlawful changes in work conditions to contact the FMRQ or the associations to report these practices. Indeed, motions concerning such issues have been filed with the Quebec Labour Court (Tribunal du travail du Québec) in the past few weeks with respect to a number of healthcare establishments.