At a special general meeting, the members of the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) of the CISSS de la Montérégie Ouest voted 96% in favor of a strike mandate that could go as far as an unlimited general strike (GGI), almost a year after initiating the current round of negotiations.

"It's a very strong mandate that our 3065 members are giving us today. Faced with offers that are clearly insufficient to meet the challenges facing our public networks, they are ready to stand up, with one voice, to demand better conditions, to ensure the future of public services," points out Tasmine Esmail, national representative at CISSS de la Montérégie.

Nearly 45% of APTS members work in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Beauharnois-Salaberry regions.

The union organization, which is part of the Common Front, represents health and social services technicians and professionals ranging from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, medical imaging technologists, specialized educators, social workers, psychologists, speech therapists and many others.

"We have in our hands a historic mandate that must be taken seriously by the government. We would point out that the members' massive support for the mobilization strategy sends a clear message to the government: that they support their negotiating teams and, above all, that they have expectations as to the outcome of the negotiations," adds Ms. Esmail.

The mandate also specifies that the GGI will be preceded by strike action. The CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS members concerned are called upon to vote democratically, by secret ballot, during a tour of general assemblies lasting until October 13, 2023. 

"Nothing is yet fixed as to when we will exercise the mandate that workers have entrusted to us. We reiterate that the objective is not to strike, but to make progress in negotiations and reach a satisfactory settlement. We believe this is still possible. The ball is in the government's court", concludes Tasmine Esmail.