Thousands of health and social care workers providing home care or traveling to families ’homes are also facing rising gas prices.
Their unions are asking the government to agree with them on a compensation amount to fill the shortfall.
Typically, allowances paid for vehicle use in the context of work are adjusted in April and October each year, explained in an interview Monday by the president of the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), Julie Bouchard.
He wants the affected workers to receive the compensation amount at the next review, in October.
What we want is to agree on a compensatory amount that will cover the costs that some people have to pay out of pocket to get over this inconvenience, to make sure they don’t pay from their own wallets.explained by Ms. Bouchard.
The compensation is 62 cents per kilometer, since April 1, then 55 cents after 8000 kilometers, the union leader said.
This is clearly not enoughregrets the president of FIQ.
This may involve nurses, nursing assistants, beneficiary attendants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and other stakeholders visiting families, for example.
Health care workers have complained directly to their managers, but they also seem to have nothing to do about it, Ms. reports. Bouchard. These workers have already been told it is owned by the Treasury and they cannot provide a compensatory amount, even if they know and understand the fuel price issue.
The FIQ reminds that retaining and recruiting nurses and health care workers is difficult without this additional pitfall.
A petition was also launched to support their cause; it is available on the website of the National Assembly. It had nearly 3,000 names on Monday. It must be signed by interested parties before September 8th.
Other unions concerned, campaigning for such compensation, are the Quebec Service Employees Union (SQEES) affiliated with FTQ, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) affiliated with FTQ, the Alliance du personnel professionnel and Technical Services of Health. and Social Services (APTS), the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS) affiliated with CSN, the Federation of Professionals (FP) affiliated with CSN, the CSQ and the Syndicate of Government of Quebec (SPGQ).
Last week, rural and suburban mail carriers who work at Canada Post and have to use their personal vehicles to deliver mail demanded similar compensation, due to rising gas prices.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
