COMMUNICATIONS
Santé Québec gets its top gun

So Geneviève Biron will preside over the destinies of Santé Québec, as Minister Dubé told us today. The bar will be high for the new health care agency’s “top gun” – that’s the name the minister has been using for months to describe the person who takes this job.

There is a world of difference between running a business, as Ms. Biron has done, and managing the health and social service system.

Taking care of your company’s return on investment is one thing; meeting the needs of people receiving health care and social services, and handling human capital with skill and intelligence, is another.

Top gun or top flop? Time will tell.

SOCIO-POLITICAL ACTION
The private sector: deconstructing the myths

Myths, as we know, can be tenacious. We also know that Minister Dubé relies on them to vaunt the (alleged) virtues of the private sector when compared with our public health and social service system.

The APTS thinks differently, of course. That’s why we’re launching the Tout sauf santé (“Anything but health”) campaign, using our strongest ammunition to destroy the most deeply entrenched misconceptions.

Does the private sector really complement the public system? Is it true, as some would argue, that our public services are a financial abyss? Find the answers ‒ and the truth ‒ on our “Dossier de l’heure” Web page (in French).

UNION ORGANIZATION
May Day march in Montréal (reminder)

This Wednesday, May 1, is Montréal’s traditional May Day march celebrating International Workers’ Day. The march is organized by the Coalition 1^er mai, of which the APTS is a member. APTS material will be available, and we’re hoping many of you will join us at François-Perrault park at 5:30 p.m.

May Day march in Montréal | Facebook

FEMINIST ACTION
Motherhood, unemployment, discrimination: let's sign the petition!

Did you know that if a woman loses her job when she’s on parental leave, or her leave has just ended, she’s not eligible for Canadian employment insurance? This is an aberration that has been found to be discriminatory in court, and yet it still continues to exist.

The federal government is the guilty party – they’re the ones who can’t get it together to make minor changes to the law in order to end this injustice. We urge you to put pressure on them by signing the petition recently posted on the House of Commons website.

The APTS had already taken up the women’s cause on March 24 when it joined the Mouvement action chômage de Montréal in fighting to change this unacceptable setup. You too can support the MAC’s work!

Is Justin Trudeau a feminist? Not for thousands of women workers

LABOUR RELATIONS
Laws with sharper teeth

A number of recent legislative changes are designed to make it easier to prevent and handle psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace.

The APTS is offering an overview of these changes in a new document now available on our website. Thanks to Bill 42, anticipated, necessary amendments have been made to various labour laws.

It’s worth mentioning that nearly half of all people report having witnessed or suffered inappropriate or discriminatory sexualized behaviour in the workplace. This must change.

ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
Spotlight on medical labs

Work in labs takes place behind the scenes. It is a daily effort that doesn’t get attention, but that plays a key role in the services that our health care institutions provide for Quebecers.

Next Monday, May 6, a focus day on the future of labs will finally shine the spotlight on this important mission. The event will be attended by your representatives from labs and many partners from the health care system.

We’ll be covering the event on social media; the schedule, and other details, are already available on our website. This will be an exciting and significant day.

More information

Radiology: Québec needs to learn from Ontario

“What’s going on in radiology is really worrisome. [...]. We’re facing a wall. [...]. We’re Québec’s fourth largest city – for me, it just doesn’t make sense that these breaks in service will have to keep on happening, over and over again.”

These heartfelt words were spoken by Guylaine Laroche, president of the APTS Outaouais local executive, when she learned that the Hull hospital will soon be losing three more medical imaging technologists who will be employed in Ontario.

Only a significant improvement in our members’ working conditions will enable us to avoid this kind of situation. Ontario seems to understand something that Québec, unfortunately, doesn't get.

More information (in French)