A FORCE FOR AUXILIARY SERVICES PERSONNEL

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Shonda Ramsey
6 years ago
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1 A FORCE FOR AUXILIARY SERVICES PERSONNEL #forcecsn incontournable.info

YOUR CHOICE In a few months, auxiliary services personnel and all employees in the health and social services network will need to make an important decision: choose the union organization that will

2 YOUR CHOICE In a few months, auxiliary services personnel and all employees in the health and social services network will need to make an important decision: choose the union organization that will represent them in the coming years. We have prepared this document to help you make an informed decision and hope it will guide you in making your choice. WE HOPE YOU LL FIND READING IT WORTHWHILE! 2

3 A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH FSSS-CSN 73% CSQ 0,07% SQEES-FTQ 12% CSD 0,6% SCFP-FTQ 13% Union representation for paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel UNION REPRESENTATION FOR AUXILIARY SERVICES PERSONNEL A vast majority of paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel in the health and social services network has chosen the CSN. Three-quarters of the sector s employees, especially those in housekeeping, kitchen, laundry and all other auxiliary services across the network, are CSN members. Building on such a strong membership, the CSN has been fighting side-byside with auxiliary services personnel for decades so that their dedicated, often behind-the-scenes work is recognized for what it s worth. The CSN s top priorities include improving auxiliary services personnel working conditions and defending their right to a place in the public health and social services system. Graph: Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

4 THE CSN IN THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES The CSN 47% + than WORKERS On the union stage, the CSN is the union organization that represents the most workers in health and social services. These workers are from all four of the network s personnel categories, which gives us a great advantage. FIQ 24% FTQ 12% APTS 11% CSQ 3% 4

5 WHY CHOOSE THE CSN? EMMANUEL VENNE Launderer Buanderie La Vérendière CISSS Lanaudière AT OUR LAUNDRY, the CSN and our union fought to keep our services in the public network when the government wanted to transfer operations to the private sector. We fought and won. Throughout the process, the CSN gave us constant support. Thanks to everyone s hard work, we kept our laundry here and our jobs in the public network. 5

6 THE CSN, DEFENDING OUR WORKING CONDITIONS OVER THE YEARS, THE CSN has innovated while playing a leading role in negotiations. Most notably, it created the Common Front and, through its persistence, acquired the outstanding features found in our collective agreements: The concept of job title in collective agreements Job security Retirement plans One month of vacation leave after one year Maternity and parental leave Medical arbitration in disability cases... and more BY CHOOSING THE CSN, auxiliary services personnel are assured to have a strong and influential voice during negotiations. Given its real understanding of auxiliary personnel working conditions, and the fact that it is the largest confederation of unions in Québec, the CSN is indeed a FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. What s more, the CSN represents the largest number of public sector workers across all sectors NEGOTIATIONS JOINING THE CSN FOR BARGAINING ON OUR OWN TERMS The last round of public sector negotiations led to a major mobilization of CSN healthcare personnel. Although we were unable to reach all the goals we had set with the Common Front, these negotiations nonetheless demonstrated that being a member of the CSN leads to the most gains and having the most clout at the bargaining table. Throughout the negotiations, the CSN played a critical role, both at the bargaining table and in terms of mobilization. Thanks to the CSN s determination, the employer withdrew all its demands for setbacks during sectoral negotiations. Our tenacity enabled us to defend paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel rights on issues such as salary insurance, personnel mobility, attraction and retention measures, leaves of absence and holidays. Our work also earned us a ruling on salary relativity, which translates, among other things, into an improved salary structure and considerable gains for several job titles, including: Housekeeping attendant (heavy duty): 9.9% Housekeeping attendant (light duty): 3.0% Cook: 10.6% Laundry attendant: 2.6%

7 We also made several gains during sectoral negotiations: A CLEAR INCREASE in the number of full-time positions, with a minimum target proportion of 60%. THE RENEWAL of premiums for healthcare professionals working with CHSLD beneficiaries or in the Far North. BETTER JOB SECURITY PROTECTION for paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel. ONE TO EIGHT WEEKS OF LEAVE with deferred salary for family-work-study balance. MEASURES TO COUNTER privatization in its various forms, especially subcontracting, fixed-price contracts and public-private partnerships (PPP). RECOGNITION of the fundamental role workers play in workplace reorganization projects. MEASURES to improve prevention in workplace health and safety. During these negotiations, the CSN also obtained: SALARY INCREASES for public sector personnel averaging 2.4% in 2019, as a result of our salary relativity efforts. A NEW 10% attraction and retention premium for skilled workers. A RESOLUTION of the regional disparity issue through the reclassification of Kuujjuaq, Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuarapik from Sector III to IV. The City of Fermont was added to the list of localities for which the article in respect of dependent children studying at the post-secondary level will apply. The 8% retention premium applying to the Côte-Nord was maintained, despite the employers desire to eliminate it. The CSN also took the time to have a real debate on the agreement in principle. By deciding to continue the negotiations, we secured additional gains that will benefit paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel. Thanks to our determination, we obtained more than $80 million additional for CSN members, in the form of: AN ADDITIONAL $14.5 million a year contribution to the CSN member group insurance plan. PREMIUMS retroactive to April 1, 2015 for employees working with clients in CHSLDs, or in the Far North. Members of other union organizations were then able to also profit from the gains made by the CSN. In response to governments who use each round of negotiations as an opportunity to attack paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel working conditions, our best option is to stay united within the largest and most assertive union organization, the CSN NEGOTIATIONS During the 2010 negotiations, the CSN s persistence resulted in many gains, namely in respect of the letters of agreement, several of which represented millions of dollars for paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel. 7

JOB RECOGNITION THE GOVERNMENT S BLATANT DISREGARD makes it critical to choose the organization that is the most active in valuing the often underappreciated work of auxiliary services personnel.

8 JOB RECOGNITION THE GOVERNMENT S BLATANT DISREGARD makes it critical to choose the organization that is the most active in valuing the often underappreciated work of auxiliary services personnel. THE CSN IS THE ORGANIZATION that does the most to gain recognition for public-sector jobs in all types of establishments: CLSCs, CHSLDs, hospitals, youth centres, rehabilitation centres and others. When representing auxiliary services personnel, the FSSS CSN fights for the recognition of the true value of their work. The CSN: HIGHLIGHTS public sector expertise and demands that auxiliary service work remains in the public sector. CREATED work committees to better address job recognition for auxiliary services personnel. DEMANDS that public sector expertise be leveraged to provide the population with the best quality service at the best price. HIGHLIGHTS the indispensable contributions of auxiliary services personnel by declaring June 7 th Auxiliary Services Personnel Day. HAS TAKEN ACTION on several privatization cases by proposing public alternatives which have led to hundreds of auxiliary services jobs remaining within the network, including in kitchens, housekeeping, or laundries such as those of Partagec and La Vérendière. 8

PROMOTING PUBLIC SERVICES THE DEFINITION OF SOLIDARITY In order to face the budget cuts and government attacks on the working conditions of the network s salaried workers, it is essential to rally

9 PROMOTING PUBLIC SERVICES THE DEFINITION OF SOLIDARITY In order to face the budget cuts and government attacks on the working conditions of the network s salaried workers, it is essential to rally together within a strong union organization. The CSN is clearly in the best position to meet the needs of auxiliary services personnel and exert enough pressure to get them what they need to practice their trade in satisfactory conditions. THE CSN IS FIRMLY AGAINST, and works effectively to counter privatization that specifically affects paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades personnel. In response to budget cuts, and other attacks, the CSN: HAS ESTABLISHED a provincial forum on the future of the public health and social services system. These events brought together most of the network s players who proposed innovative solutions for the future of our public system. LAUNCHED the 2016 Ma place en santé, j y tiens campaign to denounce the dismantling of our public services, and, notably, privatization and increased workloads. PROMOTES the ability of paratechnical personnel to improve services to the population. PROACTIVELY proposes public options in the face of employer privatization plans by systematically designing efficient solutions to safeguard public jobs. NEGOTIATES with the Ministry to limit the private sector s place in our public network 9

LOCALLY BASED UNION STRUCTURES CSN AUXILIARY SERVICES PERSONNEL are being forced to choose a union to represent them in coming years due to the Couillard government s adoption of Bill 10.

10 LOCALLY BASED UNION STRUCTURES CSN AUXILIARY SERVICES PERSONNEL are being forced to choose a union to represent them in coming years due to the Couillard government s adoption of Bill 10. OBVIOUSLY, one of the government s objectives is to see the rise of megaunions that will be distant and disconnected from the network workers reality. The CSN and its federations won t fall into this trap. The FSSS CSN is therefore proposing a locally-based union structure to promote regular contact between workers and their union representatives so the latter can answer workers questions and provide support in defending their interests. This type of structure makes it easier for auxiliary services personnel to participate in discussions on issues that affect them. It will also enable all network workers to unite and make progress together to protect their jobs and public services. To move forward, we must both acknowledge diversity and build on solidarity, which is what the CSN does best. 10

11 PAY EQUITY IN 2008, the CSN was the only organization that filed pay equity complaints for auxiliary services personnel. In 2013, it reached an agreement that led to major pay increases for thousands of auxiliary services personnel: LAUNDRY ATTENDANTS obtained a 6.49% salary adjustment retroactive to January 31, The CSN filed another series of complaints following the Conseil du trésor s maintenance of pay equity between 2010 and The CSN has been fighting for pay equity since the mid-1980s. Over the years, it put substantial resources into ending discrimination against women, culminating in the adoption of the Pay Equity Act in It has been fighting tooth and nail ever since for pay equity to be maintained. THE 2010 AND 2015 PAY EQUITY COMPLAINTS PROCESS is still ongoing and relates to several paratechnical, auxiliary services and trades job titles, including housekeeping attendant (light work). The CSN s goal remains the same: end discrimination against women. ALWAYS VIGILANT, THE CSN will take on the battles needed to ensure pay equity is maintained and applies to one and all. 11

12 A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH Bargaining Mobilization Environmental health and safety CSN SERVICES CONSULTANTS AND OFFICE STAFF IN ALL REGIONS OF QUÉBEC The CSN is, without a doubt, the union confederation that offers the broadest range of member services. Unlike other union organizations, these services are all covered by union dues. Research Advocacy for work injuries Communications #forcecsn Training Legal services incontournable.info Actuary services Auditing and accounting Production : CSN. Photo : Michel Giroux. Illustrations : Marie-Claude Doyon.

A FORCE FOR DATA PROCESSING PERSONNEL

A FORCE FOR DATA PROCESSING PERSONNEL #forcecsn incontournable.info YOUR CHOICE In a few months, data processing personnel and all employees in the health and social services network will need to make