Two-day strike affecting imaging services, walk-in sampling and laboratories at the CISSS de l’Outaouais
Two-day strike affecting imaging services, walk-in sampling and laboratories at the CISSS de l’Outaouais
Employees represented by the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) union are on strike starting yesterday and today, June 7 and 8.
“After more than a year and a half of negotiations, faced with the government’s refusal to put in place structuring measures to resolve the problems of work overload as well as the attraction and retention of staff and with a global health crisis which has demonstrated the flaws in the Quebec health and social services network (RSSS), the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) will have no other choice but to in application of the strike mandate, obtained from its 60,000 members, on June 7, 8, 21 and 22 in all the establishments where it represents employees, unless the government responds favorably to its demands to reach a satisfactory settlement ”
– the APTS
Le Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outouais (CISSS) de l’Outaouais has informed the population that activities in the sectors concerned will be offered, but possibly slowed down. It is therefore preferable, according to the CISSS de l’Outaouais, to come on site with an appointment.
“It is not out of cheerfulness that we are announcing these four days of general strike, but we are obliged to resort to them to make the Legault government listen to reason, which insists on ignoring the problems experienced by the professional and technical staff of the RSSS. It is not only to obtain decent working conditions and recognition of the expertise of our members that we are going on strike, it is also to defend quality public services for the entire population of Quebec. Our patience has also reached its limits. Premier Legault and the President of the Conseil du trésor are responsible for this deterioration in the work climate in the establishments ”,
– Benoit Audet, vice-president of the APTS
The main sectors that could be affected are:
– Imaging and diagnostic services
– Drop-in collection services
– Laboratory service
All psychosocial services remain available following adjustments in appointments. The managers of these different services will be in the field to ensure the smooth running of operations. The CISSS de l’Outaouais says it wants to reassure the population that essential services, including everything related to COVID19, such as the analysis of COVID tests, will not be affected by the walkout.
