News

Longueuil – The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) welcomes the cabinet’s adoption of the Regulation on prevention and participation mechanisms for establishments arising from the Act to modernize the occupational health and safety regime.

However, the union is calling on labour minister Jean Boulet to drop the discriminatory special regime set out in his bill on labour relations (Bill 101). This regime excludes workers employed in the health and social services and the education systems – a majority of whom are women – from protective measures established by the Regulation. The APTS demands that all Québec workers be guaranteed the same OHS prevention and participation mechanisms.

“How can we justify giving less protection to women employed in public services, where they form a significant majority, when close to 30% of the injuries recognized by the CNESST come from that sector?” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “The government must correct this injustice and tell public sector employers to lead by example in health and safety instead of giving them a free ride.”

The Regulation’s coming into force is a significant advance for the majority of Québec workers. But the government’s refusal to extend its protections to its own employees creates an unacceptable discrimination.

“By excluding sectors that are predominantly female and that account for almost 10% of Québec’s workforce, the government is upholding systemic inequality,” said APTS vice-president Christine Prégent. “It is wrong that people who take care of Quebecers should be deprived of essential mechanisms ensuring their safety at work.”

The APTS will pursue all appropriate forms of legal action if the National Assembly adopts a bill containing discriminatory provisions such as those in the labour relations bill.

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.