"Yes to Health Care Reform, But Not at Any Cost!" Magali Picard, President of the QFL
The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) will take the time to thoroughly review Bill 15, An Act to Make the Health and Social Services System More Effective, tabled today by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government. The federation wishes to remind the government that it should not act alone on a project of such significance. However, the QFL views with concern the proposed consolidation of union certifications and the continuation of the centralization initiative launched by Gaétan Barrette in 2015, which once again focuses on restructuring administrative organizations rather than addressing the health care system's real challenges.
Centralization
"We all agree that the health care system is not functioning well. It is clear that concrete, structural, and bold measures are needed to improve it. But when Gaétan Barrette—the person responsible for the current crisis in the health care network—applauds this bill, there is good reason to be concerned. We have already seen that excessive centralization did not work under the Liberals, so why are we heading down the same path again? Since the 1980s, governments have repeatedly restructured the health care system, and it has never produced positive results. We went from Health and Social Services Centres (CSSSs) to Integrated Health and Social Services Centres (CISSSs) and Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres (CIUSSSs), and now we may end up with yet another administrative structure that will create another period of instability instead of addressing the real problems facing the health care network. Why not work together with all the stakeholders involved?" said Magali Picard, President of the FTQ.
Union Certification
The FTQ is concerned about the potential merger of union certifications, which would undermine workers' ability to choose the union that represents them. According to the QFL, this constitutes a serious attack on the freedom of association.
"With this bill, the Minister is attacking freedom of association while collective agreement negotiations are currently underway. What the government is effectively saying is: 'Go ahead and spend your time negotiating—none of it will exist in six months anyway!' It is a blatant sign of disrespect toward the workers in the health care network," concluded QFL, President Magali Picard.
The QFL is committed to supporting its members and keeping them informed as the situation develops.
The QFL, Quebec's largest labour federation, represents more than 600,000 workers.
Source: QFL
Translated into English by SEU800 from the original French-language press release.