Two visions of negotiations
The government is proposing a bargaining framework to discuss salaries immediately. It also wants to postpone talks on retirement and parental rights and defer them to joint committees, where it may take months for discussions to get underway.
In response, the APTS-FIQ proposal is to have these key matters of retirement and parental rights duly negotiated according to a proper schedule. While salary talks are important, they must not prevent us from negotiating these other matters immediately.
The government wants to exclude the issue of regional disparities from the negotiations. The APTS-FIQ alliance insists on including it, as we find it essential that measures be taken to improve working conditions and ensure greater accessibility of care and services in remote regions.
Like the FIQ, the APTS reiterated the importance of improving the other working conditions provided in the collective agreement, to help attract and retain technicians and professionals in public health and social services.
We're waiting for the government's response and will keep you posted.