Quebec Nurses to Vote on Proposed Collective Agreement

The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), Quebec‘s largest nurses’ union, is preparing to vote on a new set of recommendations for their collective agreement, put forth by a conciliator. This vote will occur from Tuesday at 8 p.m. to Thursday at 8 p.m., following general assemblies that informed members about the proposal’s content.

The FIQ, which represents approximately 80,000 members including nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists, and clinical perfusionists, has been operating without a collective agreement since March 2023. A previous agreement-in-principle was reached but was rejected by 61% of members last spring. Since then, further discussions have taken place, particularly focusing on staff mobility, a contentious issue during negotiations.

The new proposal reportedly includes a 17.4% salary increase over the period from signing until April 2028 and grants an additional week of vacation for employees with 15 years of service, previously awarded at 17 to 18 years. The recommendations also suggest that staff should not be compelled to travel more than 40 kilometers if required to transfer between facilities, addressing one of the primary concerns regarding staff mobility.

The FIQ leadership described the conciliator’s proposal as “a reasonable balance between the parties.” However, it remains a recommendation rather than a formal agreement-in-principle. If ratified, it will become the new collective agreement for the union. If not, parties will need to return to the negotiation table.

These voting proceedings follow substantial labor unrest last year, involving numerous public sector workers that caused significant disruptions, including school closures and surgery delays across the province. Currently, the FIQ remains the major union without a settled agreement, underscoring the importance of this upcoming vote.