Pontiac imaging technicians seek transfer to Gatineau over bonus disparity
Tashi Farmilo
Imaging technicians at Pontiac and Wakefield hospitals are requesting transfers to other hospitals in the region following the announcement that they will not receive the $20,000 bonuses offered to staff at other hospitals. Nearly half of the local technicians have applied for jobs elsewhere, raising concerns about potential service interruptions.
Nicole Boucher-Larivière, a representative of the CISSSO health authority in Pontiac, confirmed on Thursday to CHIP 101.9 that four of the eight imaging technicians from Pontiac Hospital have applied for positions at Hull Hospital, with another considering a move to Deep River, Ontario. She underscored the critical role of imaging technicians in keeping emergency rooms operational and warned of the real risk of service interruptions if the staffing levels are not maintained.
"Without full staffing, the risk of service interruptions is now very real," Boucher-Larivière said, adding that while transfer requests could take months and are not guaranteed, she hopes a solution will be negotiated between the Provincial Treasury Board and the union representing the technicians, the APTS.
Pontiac MP André Fortin attributed the situation to recent measures by the provincial government. He noted that the government initially offered higher bonuses and paid leave to technicians at Hull and Gatineau hospitals at the end of April, extending these benefits to Buckingham and Maniwaki hospitals last week. Fortin criticised the approach, stating that it would have been simpler to offer a region-wide solution with equivalent salaries.
During the monthly meeting of the MRC Pontiac on June 19, the council adopted a resolution urging Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel and Health Minister Christian Dubé to extend the bonuses to all hospitals in the Outaouais region. The resolution aims to address the disparity and retain essential medical staff in the Pontiac area.
As the situation unfolds, the health authority and local officials are hopeful for a swift resolution to prevent further destabilisation of healthcare services in the region. The ongoing negotiations and the decisions made in the coming months will be crucial in determining the future staffing and operational capacity of Pontiac and Wakefield hospitals.
