News

Montréal – The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal is sharply critical of a unilateral decision made by the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal to remove community organizers from CLSCs. The union argues that this is a setback for both workers and the population.

“Administrative decisions that ignore the historic role played by community organizers in the community are denying what people actually need,” said Philippe Bellazzi, vice-president of the APTS local team in Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. “Community organizers play a key role in providing a link between community partners and the local environment. Their hurried relocation is imminent, which means that there are genuine reasons to be worried right now. The CIUSSS is acting without consulting anyone instead of taking time to do things right.”

The APTS called out the CIUSSS for failing to take any measures that would respond to community partners’ needs, as the relocation of community organizers looms. Community organizations are experiencing deep unease as a result.

Politicians have also spoken out on this issue, with Québec solidaire MNAs Ruba Ghazal, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, Manon Massé and Alejandra Zaga Mendez supporting the demands of the APTS Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. These MNAs have written to the president and executive director of the CIUSSS, asking her to reverse her decision.

“The APTS could not remain silent when the CIUSSS made this decision,” said Caroline Letarte-Simoneau, APTS provincial representative for Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. “We attended the CIUSSS board meeting, along with community partners who share our concerns, to ask them to put the relocation on hold. We wanted to allow time for a meaningful reflection process that would lead to a lasting solution. We weren’t exactly surprised when the CIUSSS turned down our request.”

The APTS

The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) represents more than 68,000 members who play a key role in ensuring that health and social services institutions run smoothly. Our members provide a wide range of services for all Quebecers, including diagnostic, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, clinical support, and prevention services.