LABOUR RELATIONS
Suspension of seniority: 3-0 for the APTS!

Three different arbitrators, a single dispute, three similar decisions in the APTS’s favour: the collective agreement and rights of our members must be maintained during strike action.

The employer, who had suspended the accumulation of seniority for members during the 2021 and 2023 strikes, was again rebuffed in a recent arbitration decision. It can’t subject employees to penalties or reprisals under such circumstances.

In frustration, the employer has already contested the first two decisions and may do the same with the third. If it does, it will come up against the APTS, which has no intention of backing down.

More details

FEMINIST ACTION
A law is not enough

There is some good in the new Bill 42, such as reversing the burden of proof ‒ in the victims’ favour ‒ to facilitate recognizing employment injuries resulting from sexual violence in the workplace.

But this bill remains a work in progress without appropriate support measures to help victims through their process. So far, it is a missed opportunity by the CNESST.

When will there be an information line and employees trained to handle this type of claim? These are some of
the questions the APTS raised in its recent brief on the bill
(in French).

Madame Biron, we're rising up!

More paid leave in Bill 42 to help victims of intimate partner violence and more social housing to curb homelessness among women: these are two of the demands the Collectif 8 mars made last Wednesday to the minister for the status of women, Martine Biron.

The Collectif also called for maintaining readily accessible, quality public services, arguing that women are the first to pay the price for their deterioration, both as workers and users. The meeting was one of the activities to mark International Women’s Rights Day 2024, with the theme Rising up!

ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
Laboratories: reflection and action plan

The diagnosis is definitive: hypercentralization of labs in the health and social services system threatens public and local services, as well as the physical and psychological health of employees. Rapid, concrete action is required.

This was the news from the February 12 focus day on the future of laboratories, which brought together APTS members working in labs, elected officials from your local teams, members of the Provincial Council and union counsellors.

The event, which was a chance to take stock of 2022-2023 province-wide laboratory consultations, is part of an action plan to find solutions to hypercentralization problems. Making the public aware of the critical role labs play in the health and social services system will be part of it. Stay tuned.

Major conference on social work

The APTS is proud to participate in a major conference on social work, the Summit of the Estates General on Social Work (Sommet des États généraux du travail social), taking place April 19 and 20, 2024 at Collège de Maisonneuve, in Montréal.

This summit will be a chance to discuss recommendations from last year’s conference and to propose courses of action for implementation.

You can take part in the summit in person or via videoconference. The program is already available (in French), and you can get tickets at lepointdevente.com/billets/egt. The Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec recognizes nine hours of professional training for this activity. We hope to see a big turnout!