Some 65,000 union members of the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS) have been waiting for three and a half months for the payment of bonuses for unfavorable shifts. A delay which can be explained by problems linked to payroll software.
Posted at 6:16 p.m.
These bonuses, retroactive to the signing of the new collective agreement in June, should have been paid on October 5, according to the APTS. They are offered to union members working evenings, nights or weekends as well as to those working in youth protection or with clients with serious behavioral problems.
The president of the APTS, Robert Comeau, considers this payment delay “unacceptable”. “There is a lot of discontent [chez nos membres]he said. This demotivates the troops to access these shifts and troubleshoot the network. People develop cynicism. »
APTS union members were already entitled to this type of bonus under the old collective agreement. But these were improved during the last negotiations. The monetary difference amounts to between $150 and $250 per two weeks, specifies the union.
Problems with payroll software
Santé Québec explains the delay in the payment of premiums by “several simultaneous tasks requested from the establishments’ payroll software suppliers as well as from the teams who handle payroll processing at Santé Québec. » She cites in particular the integration of the terms of new collective agreements as well as retroactive payments linked to pay equity.
-“Although contracted suppliers have the obligation to have the necessary resources to ensure the continuity of operations in the network, the current situation is particular and the demand at the moment exceeds the available resources,” we write in an email .
According to Santé Québec, it is “impossible” to speed up this work by calling on “other external suppliers” because current payroll systems are outdated and collective agreements are complex.
“For the next adjustments to collective agreements, Santé Québec will make sure to share with all parties involved the complexity and delays associated with significant changes when new provisions related to payroll processing are agreed,” adds- your.
The APTS is considering “filing an appeal under the Labor Code” so that the agreement negotiated with the employer is respected. Grievances have already been filed. The union displayed a banner on Thursday above Highway 20, near Drummondville, bearing the message “Health and social services: Where are our bonuses? “.
