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Quebec labour tribunal says nurses cannot pressure the province by refusing overtime

Sep 16, 2024 | 2:49 PM

MONTREAL — Quebec’s labour tribunal has stymied the latest negotiation tactic of a union representing most of the province’s nurses.

Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec had threatened that its members would stop accepting to work overtime starting Thursday, potentially throwing the health network into chaos.

But the Tribunal administratif du travail says nurses are not allowed to refuse overtime because that would seriously jeopardize services to which Quebecers “have a right.”

The FIQ, whose members have been without a contract for more than 500 days, still holds a strike mandate that members can exercise — without putting at risk essential services.