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Québec City – The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) sharply criticized a number of provisions of Bill 101 on labour relations, in particular those that address occupational health and safety, in its brief (in French) presented in a parliamentary committee. The union sees the bill as a dangerous step backward for public system employees.

“The minister is proposing a prevention system on the cheap for sectors in which women make up the majority, such as health and social services and education,” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “It’s not just unfair; it’s nothing short of discriminatory. Every worker in Québec deserves the same protections.”

The APTS vehemently opposes the delay in the application of the Regulation on prevention and participation mechanisms in institutions, despite consensus between the union and the employer, along with the introduction of a differentiated system for health and social services and education. The union is calling for the wholesale removal of article 54 from the bill and chapter XVI.1, which would be added to an Act respecting occupational health and safety.

It also criticizes undermining the powers of health and safety committees, restricting the role of health and safety officers and limiting the CNESST’s ability to intervene, which would result if the bill were adopted as currently written.

“Prevention driven by and for workers is the key to reducing the number of employment injuries and other forms of disability,” said APTS vice-president Christine Prégent. “We’re going to end up having health and safety committees in name only. This will increase the already significant risks in our workplaces, which will directly affect services for Quebecers.”

Update the arbitration system 

With respect to changes that would be made to the Labour Code, the APTS welcomes efforts to accelerate grievance arbitration, provided the timeframes apply to the health and social services system. It also recommends allowing arbitrators to decide on several grievances that are incidental to a main grievance, to avoid duplication and stalling tactics. It further calls on the labour minister to make data on arbitration delays publicly available every year.

“We have backlogs in the grievance arbitration system,” Robert Comeau said. “It can take two years for a decision. The status quo isn’t serving employees, employers or justice. Urgent action is needed.”

The APTS also opposes forcing unions to present financial statements audited by a chartered accountant at their general assemblies; this is a cumbersome, expensive and unjustified measure and an internal union governance issue.

Better support victims of intimate partner violence 

For years, the APTS has been calling for ten days’ paid leave in the event of intimate partner violence to allow victims to feel safe, find shelter, consult a professional or initiate legal action or personal efforts to get back on their feet.

As a result, it encourages Minister Boulet to seize the opportunity of Bill 101 to correct major shortcomings in an Act respecting labour standards regarding protecting victims of intimate partner violence. It currently offers only two days’ paid leave for various reasons.

“It’s a concrete, compassionate measure that could make a real difference – and even save lives,” said Christine Prégent.

The APTS

The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) represents more than 65,000 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.