APTS Still Fighting: Wants Pay Increase of 12.4 % Over Three years, Lump Sums Added To Hourly Wages and Improved Working Conditions

To create a cumulative effect and preserve the salary increase each year, APTS wants the lump sums of $1000 and $600 incorporated in the salary scales. (Image: Robin Higgins / Pixabay)

The Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) which represents the majority of professional and technical personnel in the public health and social services sector in Quebec. is requesting for all its membership a salary increase of 12.4 percent over three years, including 7.4 percent in salary catch-up.  

Along with the monetary demands, the APTS wants a clause added to ensure purchasing power for its members. The clause will guarantee salary increases follow inflation if it is higher than what is provided in the initial offer.

According to the APTS, the central’s latest salary demand is close to the government’s monetary offer. However, because lump sums will have no impact on wage progression, the union wants the lump sums of $1000 and $600 incorporated in the salary scales so they will have a cumulative effect and preserve the salary increase each year.

The salary 12.4 percent inflation and catch-up wage demand over the three-year contract breakdown as follows:

  • 2020 a 5.75 percent increase, including the lump sum of $1000.
  • 2021 a 3.15 percent increase.
  • 2022 a 3.50 percent increase which includes one lump sum of $600.

After the union’s 60,000 members held rotating general strikes on June 7, 8, 21 and 22, according to union negotiators the latest Treasury Board offer addresses wages and working conditions but does not meet the organization’s expectations. As such, they recommended the offer be rejected.

“Our primary objective is to obtain working conditions that are commensurate with your expertise in order to put an end to the labour shortage and work overload. This proposed regulation includes some gains, but it does not meet the needs of the health and social services network. It will not resolve the issue of staff shortages, particularly in youth protection, which is a government priority,”  APTS Negotiation Team. ” At this stage of the negotiations, we must report to the General Council delegation to recommend the rejection of this offer…”