MONTREAL — Members of a union representing more than 80,000 health care workers in Quebec have decisively rejected a tentative collective agreement with the province that was endorsed by the labour group's leadership.
FIQ president Julie Bouchard said at a news conference in Montreal that she was disappointed by the results, but insisted she was prepared to return to the negotiating table and advance union members' interests. She said the union, whose members include nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists — technicians who operate blood pumps during cardiac surgery — will next regroup with local representatives to understand the agreement's shortcomings.
The rejection of the deal comes after 15 months of negotiations between the FIQ and provincial government and eight days of strikes by union members last fall. Bouchard on Saturday didn't rule out additional pressure tactics, but said the focus now is on negotiations.