FSSS-CSN Consultant Breaks Rule Provides Information to Candidate During Local Union Election Campaign

Documents show that during the MUHCEU CSN delegate and executive election campaign, the assigned FSSS-CSN consultant provided information directly to a candidate.

The Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS) of the CSN arbitrarily assigns consultants to the affiliated unions, who are to remain neutral during election campaigns.

The consultant inappropriately informed a candidate during the election campaign that an executive was according to her, illegally campaigning.  After receiving the information from the consultant, candidate deposited a complaint with the assigned president of elections.

Prior to the election a president and secretary are nominated by the union membership at a General assembly.

“Ironically the investigation revealed that I was the one who followed the rules, and not the (FSSS-CSN) consultant,” Manuel Fernandes.

Regulations state that all complaints are to be addressed directly to either the appointed president or secretary and not directly to the candidates.

The investigation performed by the president and secretary of the elections revealed no wrongdoing. Their decision was that the executive was campaigning legally and on their own time.

“The complaint was against me, I was shocked when I read the text, which stated the information was provided by the union consultant directly to a candidate, a violation of election regulations.  Ironically, the investigation by the president and election secratary revealed that I was the one who followed the rules and not the consultant, ” said Manuel Fernandes, former MUHCEU interim president Manuel Fernandes.

Fernandes, as a union executive had previously informed the FSSS-CSN, “that the local union pays over $2 million yearly for their services, therefore we are the customer and make independent decisions.”

The President of the MUHC CSN union Robert Lagueux did not reply to our request for comment.