Hma-Qubec workers stage one-day strike in greater Montreal region today

Hma-Qubecsays it is maintaining all scheduled blood drives Wednesday, despite a one-day strike by nurses, blood technicians and other health-care workers across the greater Montreal region.

The non-profit agency, which supplies blood and blood products to hospitals in Quebec,must collect 1,000 blood donations daily across the province. It is asking would-be donors in greater Montreal not to show up at a drive without an appointment.

According to theCentrale des syndicats du Qubec (CSQ),132 nurses, nursing assistants, counsellors and technicians are on strike. Members of the SPI-CSQ, they have been without a contract since March 31,2019.

Negotiations began in September 2020, and amediator was named in mid-January, but there has been little progress in talks since then, the union said in a news release Wednesday.

Nancy Landry, president of the SPI-CSQ, said in that statementshe hopes Wednesday's job action will be enough to make the employer "change its attitude" at the bargaining table.

"It's obvious that our working conditions must be improved, otherwise it will be increasingly difficult to retain and attract nurses to Hma-Qubec," Landrysaid.

The main issues innegotiations aresalaries, scheduling, access to leave and mandatory overtime. The union claims Hma-Qubec nurses and nursing assistants earn significantly less than their counterparts elsewhere in Quebec's public health and social services network.

Agreement in principle in Quebec City

However, Roselyne Zombecki,Hma-Qubecvice-president ofculture, people and leadership,says negotiations with the union have not broken down. She said the last meeting between the two sides took place July 4.

"In recent weeks, the employer suggested the SPI-CSQ proceed with negotiations in accelerated mode with the aim of reaching an agreement before the summer," Zombeckisaid."This proposal was refused by the SPI-CSQ, unlike all the other unions, includingQuebec City nurses."

Zombecki saidQuebec City nurses, who are affiliated with another union,unanimously accepted the employer's proposal following an agreement in principle reached on June 23.

Wednesday's strike is impacting Hma-Qubec headquarters at Place Versailles in Montreal's east end, as well as scheduled blood drives atthe Quartier Dix 30 shopping centre in Brossard, in Kirkland and at Centre Laval in Laval.

Mobile blood drives inSaint-Jrme, Mont-Tremblant, Saint-Lazare, Saint-Bruno and Saint-Hilaireare also affected.