A group of office workers and administrative professionals at a major Montreal health authority have applied for union certification, a move that would make them the last group of public health employees in Quebec to join a union.
The Syndicat du personnel de bureau, des techniciens et techniciennes et des professionnel-les de l’administration du CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal filed a certification application with the Administrative Labour Tribunal on Friday. The application covers all office personnel and administrative technicians and professionals at CIUSSS West-Central Montreal.
Why workers sought union representation
According to the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), two main factors convinced a majority of workers to sign union cards: planned reorganizations announced by Santé Québec, and the rights and protections available under the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS-CSN) collective agreement.
The CIUSSS West-Central Montreal workers were previously the only employees in Quebec’s public health system without union representation.
What certification would mean
If the Administrative Labour Tribunal grants certification, the new union would be affiliated with the FSSS-CSN, the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain and the CSN.
“We are pleased to welcome these workers to our movement,” CSN President Caroline Senneville said. “This clearly illustrates the relevance of unions in 2026. Organizing is the only way for workers to gain real power over their conditions of employment. Starting now, we will work hard to help resource this new union, train its representatives and set up an effective operating structure that is responsive to the needs of all members.”
