Health union files complaint against Sante-Quebec over unpaid bonuses

The logo of the Tribunal administratif du travail du Quebec, Tuesday, January 30, 2024 in Quebec City. (Jacques Boissinot / The Canadian Press)

The major health and social services union, APTS, has filed a complaint in court against Santé Québec in connection with the delay in the payment of several bonuses to thousands of its members.

The Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) is demanding that Santé Québec pay it $100,000 in moral damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.

These include evening, night, weekend, critical care and psychiatric work bonuses, for example, which had been agreed during the last negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreements.

The APTS collective agreement came into force on June 16, but these bonuses have still not been paid. They were due to be paid within 120 days of the signing of the collective agreement, i.e. on Oct. 5.

• Read more: Thousands of health-care workers waiting for bonuses months after Santé Québec’s deadline

In its application to the Administrative Labour Tribunal, the APTS explained that it had enquired on several occasions about the reasons for the delays. Employer representatives mentioned a problem with the payroll system service provider.

After several months, the APTS filed this complaint against Santé Québec, arguing that this constituted an obstruction of union activities and an infringement of freedom of association.

“Santé Québec has undermined and weakened the union in its primary mission of defending the interests of its members,” the APTS argued in its petition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 5, 2025.