Public sector strikes in Montreal and Laval: What services are affected?

Montreal and Laval will be the last regionsto be affected this week by a public sector walkoutin a series of rotatingstrikes.

A mix of civil servantsteachers, health-care professionals, court clerks and other public sector employees are protesting against stalled negotiations with the provincial government.

Schools and CEGEPs will be closed across Montreal and Laval.

In the health-care sector, essential services will be provided.

For non-emergency or outpatient services, patients can expect delays or possible cancellations.

Thursday's strike could affect care in hospitals, CLSCs, long-term care institutions, and French-languageyouth and family services. (Batshawyouth and family centres are not affected by the strike.)

Here is aguide to what health care and social services are affected tomorrow:

Critical or essential services

By law, Quebec hospitals must maintain a 100 per cent working capacity in emergency rooms and intensive care units.

Unionized health-care professionals in these departments mustensure that there is no reduction in patient care.

Specialized services and hospitals

Hospitalsthat offer specialized services must operate at 90 per cent during a strike mandate. Specialized services includepsychiatric care, cardiology andneurology.

Specialized hospitals that have departments that offer community care or clinical psychiatric care must also have 90 per cent of their workforce in place.

Other hospital services

During a strike, non-specialized hospitals must operate at 80 per cent capacity.

Outpatient appointments are considered non-essential. That means those patients in Laval and Montreal with scheduled appointments on Thursday can expect delays and possibly cancellations. Staff levels could be reduced.

Shelters, rehabilitationcentres and long-term care facilities

These centres must operate at 90 per cent capacity during a walkout. Expect some reductions in staffing.