COVID-19 | Red carpet treatment for medical specialists, while health and social services professionals and technicians are thrown a few crumbs

April 16, 2020

 “It’s infuriating and insulting! This government isn’t even offering a hazard premium to all health and social services professionals and technicians. To add insult to injury, it is rolling out the red carpet for medical specialists, offering them a 20% premium for working evenings and nights. It’s indecent!" declared Andrée Poirier, President of the APTS.

The agreement with medical specialists grants them $211 an hour up to a maximum of $2,500 a day, to work in CHSLDs where there are patients with COVID-19. The government is offering occupational therapists working in the same CHSLD, at their top remuneration, a hazard premium equivalent to $2.80 an hour (8%). Technologists in nuclear medicine with the same seniority – who won’t be entitled to the total premium even though they’re working with people who’ve tested positive for coronavirus – will only receive $1.34 an hour (4%).

"Professionals and technicians have been on the front line since the very beginning, totally committed to the population of Québec. They are facing risks every single day. And how does the Legault government treat them? It offers them crumbs. For the past month, the APTS has had to fight with MSSS representatives to get measures set in place to protect its members. Sanitation materials and protective equipment are being rationed. Added to that are the ridiculous pay increases they’re proposing in our contract talks. No recognition for public-sector employees in health and social services, only distain,” concluded Andrée Poirier.

The APTS

The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux) represents 56,000 members whose role is indispensable in ensuring that health and social services institutions run smoothly. Our members offer a myriad of services to the population in all regions of Québec, including diagnostic services, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, clinical support and prevention services.