Opinion

The Quebec government agrees with labour organizations that most of you, the provinces’ lower-wage healthcare workers deserve an exceptional catch-up pay increase, but just not right now.

In fact, workers won’t see a cent of catchup pay before the last year of the agreement in principle. Unions appear to be satisfied with the deal; the majority cancelled their strikes. In the meantime, the underpaid and, most often, overworked labourers continue to be exploited until the very last minute the contract will allow.

Both sides should now do the right thing and pay the workers the money their promised today, not in 2022 – They deserve it!

Manuel B. Fernandes, worked in the McGill University Health Centre community for well over three decades. He was interim President of the MUHC Employee’s FSSS-CSN Union from December 2016 – October 2017 as well as Vice President of Occupational Health and Safety from 2011 – 2017.