New offers, same old contempt

On March 30, Treasury Board president Sonia LeBel presented the government’s most recent offers to APTS and FIQ presidents. (These two unions have formed an alliance for the duration of current contract talks). Our presidents’ response: “The employer’s offer does not provide anything like common ground.” See our press release.

The offers were massively rejected by the APTS General Council at an emergency meeting on April 6.

At a recent General Council meeting, your representatives unanimously voted in favour of a strike mandate for a maximum of 10 days. You’re now being asked to vote for this mandate so that the strike action can take place. To help you make a decision, we've put the information you need on the negoapts website.

Write to Christian Dubé

The APTS invites you to sign a letter asking the health and social services minister, Christian Dubé, to reimburse the dues paid to professional orders by health and social services professionals and technicians as part of their job.

When you sign the letter, you're adding your voice to the voice of APTS president Andrée Poirier, who wrote to Christian Dubé on this topic on February 22. (The minister has not yet deigned to answer).

FEMINIST ACTION
Survey on family/work/studies balance

Taking stock of the pandemic situation after twelve months, the CCFTÉ (Coalition Conciliation Famille-Travail-Études) – a coalition on family/work/studies balance of which the APTS is a member – is studying the challenges faced by Québec society under COVID-19. To continue its work, the Coalition is inviting you to take ten minutes to fill out a questionnaire (in French). The deadline is April 12, and survey respondents will be eligible to win a $50 gift card for a website where you can buy books from independent booksellers (leslibraires.ca).

FEMINIST ACTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Gender and climate change event

In the context of Earth Day, the Afeas (Association féminine d’éducation et d’action sociale) and the Réseau des femmes en environnement are presenting a talk by France Levert on making gender a part of the fight against climate change in Québec in order to ensure that the environmental transition does not make inequalities worse. Levert will also discuss the differentiated impacts of climate change, possible solutions, and men and women’s different perceptions of the climate crisis.

This free event will take place on Zoom on Thursday, April 22, from noon to 1:15 p.m. (in French). Click here to register.

ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES (SOTEP)
Acfas convention

Acfas, an organization promoting scientific research in French, will be holding its annual convention from May 3 to 7 on the theme “Du jamais su” (roughly translating as “We never knew that”). Partly online, the event will include many forums, one of which will involve the SOTEP. Researchers Annie Carrier and Anne Hudon are studying what employees are doing on the ground to meet challenges in the health and social services system. The meaning of work will be discussed, as well as the role of a union such as the APTS. See the Acfas site for full details on the convention and the program.

Research on the impact of COVID-19

On February 22, 2021, we invited you to participate in a research project on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare employees that was being carried out by Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet and Manon Truchon. Additional participants are currently needed to make up the number required to continue with the study. In other words, you can still join and take this opportunity to highlight your job title. See the information sheet (in French) for details.

Recognizing the work carried out by professionals in labs

The work done by APTS members in labs is sometimes forgotten by the government and neglected by managers. More than ever, we need to take advantage of National Medical Laboratory Week (April 11 to 17) to emphasize its importance. A number of actions are scheduled during the week to thank and support these vitally important workers, and especially to make their voices heard. Ask your local executive about actions in your region, and join in to help ensure a big turnout!

SOCIAL SECURITY
Exemption from the dental care plan

If you’ve signed up for the optional dental care plan, a new possibility has existed since April 1, 2021. You may now be exempted from the plan for a specific period if you provide evidence that you’re covered by a similar protection under another insurance plan. When that other coverage comes to an end, you have 30 days to submit a request to return to the plan. After 30 days, rules about joining outside the time limit will apply. Contact your employer if you want either to be exempted from the dental care plan or to join it again.

Information meeting on the RREGOP (in English)

Whether you’re at the beginning of your career or just about to retire, this information meeting on “Making sense of the RREGOP and other pension benefits” will give you the tools you need to optimize your participation in your pension plan. In April and early May, two sessions will take place in English. A last meeting in French will be offered in May (date to be announced), after which meetings will resume in the fall.

The sessions are scheduled on the following dates:

April 20, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – IN ENGLISH
May 6, noon to 2 p.m. – IN ENGLISH

Click here to register.

Sessions last about two hours. Union leave time cannot be granted for this type of meeting. Don’t hesitate to write to us at retraite.assurance@aptsq.com.

LABOUR RELATIONS
Annual seniority list

Spring is here and once again, the employer has 14 days following the end of the pay period that includes March 31 to post a list of all APTS employees indicating the seniority accumulated by each one as of March 31, 2021. The employer must also indicate the seniority credited to employees on the previous year’s list. It is very important to check the seniority you've accumulated during the period ending with the posting of the official list. If you find an error, you have to contest it by grievance during the posting period. Don’t hesitate to contact your local executive or your union counsellor if you have any questions.

SOCIO-POLITICAL ACTION
Webinar on the political role of the APTS

The APTS is often required to take a stand on major political issues. A forum for exchanges and discussions on these issues is provided by a webinar on your union’s political role, “Quel rôle politique pour l’APTS,” organized by the Carrefour d'action politique and hosted by APTS vice-president Laure Letarte-Lavoie. Put it in your agenda and enjoy this opportunity to take part in the debate. To join our Facebook event, click on the webinar link on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. and enter the meeting ID: 950 2509 2818 and the passcode: 632039.

A few places still available

The deadline to register for the Carrefour des idées 2 has been extended to April 16. This event is a great opportunity to learn and exchange about issues related to the meaning of work. Under the theme Choisir pour agir (“Making choices so that we can act”), it will open with a stimulating talk by Damien Contandriopoulos of the University of Victoria on the current state of the health and social services system and its historical trajectory.

The Carrefour des idées 2 will take place (in French) on May 5 (afternoon) and May 6 (morning). To reserve your spot, register via the GEMS Web portal no later than April 16, 2021.