Quebec health-care workers’ union ‘dumbfounded’ by hiring freeze for 565 positions [Video]

Nathalie Bourque was getting ready to post job listings at the Laval health and social services centre (CISSS de Laval) on Tuesday night when she got a call from human resources saying there would be a hiring freeze on vacant positions.

The president of the union representing workers at the CISSS de Laval (FSSS–CSN) said she was “insulted and dumbfounded” by the news given to her the night before approved postings were meant to go live. She confirmed about 565 positions won’t be filled, with no timeline as to when the CISSS will start hiring again.

“It’s a shame,” she said. “The government keeps saying there are staff shortages and high demand, Legault keeps trying to appeal to students, and now we have a hiring freeze.”

Bourque was told the freeze was necessary while the CISSS’s structural organization goes under review. Quebec said it wants to reshape the health-care network …