Premiums Not Paid by Health Quebec: Court Hears Workers’ Case
- The administrative labor court began hearing a complaint Monday regarding premiums owed to thousands of health workers.
- The Alliance of Professional and Technical Staff of Health and Social services (APTS), representing 67,000 members, has filed a complaint against Employer Santé Québec, alleging obstruction and interference...
- The premiums in question include payments for night shifts, evening shifts, end-of-week work, bonuses for work in youth centers, critical care bonuses, and premiums for working with clients...
Table of Contents
- Health Worker Premium Dispute Heard in Labor Court
- Health Worker Wage Disputes: Key Questions Answered
- Understanding the Health Worker Premium Dispute
- What is the health worker premium dispute about?
- Who is involved in the dispute?
- What types of premiums are in dispute?
- When was the agreement on premiums reached, and when were they supposed to be paid?
- What are the key points of contention in the dispute?
- What are the APTS’s demands in the lawsuit?
- The Legal and Procedural Aspects
- Summarizing the Key Facts
- Understanding the Health Worker Premium Dispute
The administrative labor court began hearing a complaint Monday regarding premiums owed to thousands of health workers.
The Alliance of Professional and Technical Staff of Health and Social services (APTS), representing 67,000 members, has filed a complaint against Employer Santé Québec, alleging obstruction and interference in union activities. The dispute centers on the partial payment of premiums to concerned workers.
The premiums in question include payments for night shifts, evening shifts, end-of-week work, bonuses for work in youth centers, critical care bonuses, and premiums for working with clients exhibiting serious behavioral disorders.
These premiums were agreed upon during recent negotiations to renew public sector collective agreements.
The APTS signed it’s agreement on June 7, 2024. According to the agreement, the employer was to pay the premiums within 120 days, by October 5, 2024.
However,some bonuses remain unpaid.
The Employer Health and Social Services Negotiation Committee (CPNSSS) cited issues with payroll service system providers as the reason for the delays.
The APTS filed the complaint against Health Quebec, stating, This is not a punctual issue relating to the application of the collective agreement, but a blatant and public refusal of concretizing the gains which were obtained by the union following the mobilization of its members and the hard work of its representatives, attacking its credibility with its members.
The APTS is seeking full payment of all outstanding premiums and adjustments, as well as $100,000 in moral damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.
Administrative Judge Henrik Ellesfsen was unable to hear the case’s substance on Monday because the employers’ negotiation committee for health and social services requested to be recognized as an intervener. The court debated the CPNSSS’s interest in the file throughout the day.
Judge Ellesfsen has taken the question under deliberation.
Health Worker Wage Disputes: Key Questions Answered
The ongoing dispute concerns the non-payment or partial payment of agreed-upon premiums to health workers. The Alliance of Professional and Technical Staff of Health and Social services (APTS),representing 67,000 members,filed a complaint against Employer Santé Québec. The APTS alleges obstruction and interference in union activities due to these payment issues.
Who is involved in the dispute?
The key parties involved are:
APTS: The Alliance of Professional and Technical Staff of Health and Social services, representing health workers.
Employer Santé Québec: The employer responsible for paying the premiums.
Employer Health and Social Services Negotiation Committee (CPNSSS): The negotiating committee referenced by the Employer,citing problems with payroll service providers.
Administrative Labor Court: The venue where the complaint is being heard.
The premiums in question encompass various aspects of health worker compensation, notably:
Night shift payments
Evening shift payments
End-of-week work payments
Bonuses for working in youth centers
Critical care bonuses
Premiums for working with clients exhibiting serious behavioral disorders
The premiums were agreed upon during recent negotiations to renew public sector collective agreements. The APTS signed its agreement on June 7, 2024. According to the agreement, the employer was obligated to pay the premiums within 120 days, specifically by October 5, 2024, but some bonuses remain unpaid.
What are the key points of contention in the dispute?
The APTS’s complaint highlights several key issues:
non-payment The primary issue centers on the failure of Employer santé Québec to fully pay agreed-upon premiums.
Credibility: The APTS feels the employer’s actions are damaging the union’s credibility with its members.
public Refusal: The APTS views the situation as a “blatant and public refusal” to honor the gains obtained by the union.
What are the APTS’s demands in the lawsuit?
The APTS’s demands include:
Full payment of all outstanding premiums and adjustments.
$100,000 in moral damages.
$100,000 in punitive damages.
The Legal and Procedural Aspects
What is the role of the Administrative Labor Court?
The Administrative Labor Court is hearing the complaint filed by the APTS. The court’s role is to assess the evidence, consider arguments from all sides, and render a decision on the dispute.
The Employer Health and Social Services Negotiation Committee (CPNSSS) cited issues with payroll service providers as the reason for the delays in payment. The court debated their ability to intervene.
What is the current status of the case?
As of March 24, 2025, the substance of the case had not yet been heard. The court was dealing with a request from the employer health and social Services Negotiation Committee (CPNSSS) to be recognized as an intervener in the case. Judge henrik Ellesfsen is currently deliberating on the CPNSSS’s request.
Summarizing the Key Facts
The table below presents a summary of key facts in the dispute:
| Aspect | Details |
| :——————— | :———————————————————————————————————————————— |
| Involved Parties | APTS, Employer Santé Québec, CPNSSS, Administrative Labor Court |
| Dispute Focus | Non-payment/partial payment of health worker premiums |
| Agreed-Upon Date | June 7, 2024 |
| Payment Deadline | October 5, 2024 (120 days after June 7, 2024) |
| Reasons for Delays | Problems with payroll service system providers (according to the employer) |
| APTS demands | Full payment of premiums, $100,000 moral damages, and $100,000 punitive damages |
| Current Court Status | Judge deliberating the Employer’s negotiation committees request to be recognized as an intervener. No hearing has been scheduled as of March 24, 2025. |