The province's biggest nurses union says talks with the government have stalled. (CBC)

Quebec’s biggest nurses union is threatening to use pressure tactics as it negotiates the renewal of its members' collective agreement.

Though the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé has recently obtained the support of the province’s two big doctors' federations, officials said talks have stalled at the bargaining table.

The nurses are hoping the government will agree to sit down with a mediator, but failing that — the union will hold a meeting March 29 and 30 to decide on pressure tactics.

Any pressure tactics would have to be approved by the province’s essential services council.

But the council’s ruling would actually force the government to improve services to the population, because many of the province’s hospitals are currently understaffed said union president Régine Laurent.

The nurses are demanding four day work weeks of 36.5 hours and an end to mandatory overtime.

They also want salaries that are closer to what nurses earn in the other provinces, said union vice president Michèle Boisclair.

The starting salary for a nurse in Ontario is $10,000 higher than in Quebec, said Boisclair.

Nursing shortage

The nurses said these changes are needed to help counter the province’s shortage of nurses.

Currently, the province is short up to 2,500 nurses and another 15,000 are eligible for retirement in the next three years, said the union.

"If our government doesn't show any respect, any trust in our solutions, I think it's putting the population in danger," said Boisclair.

Despite the shortage of nurses, the union said hospitals spent $148 million on nurses from private agencies. That amount rose to $182 million in 2007, it said.

Health Minister Yves Bolduc said he was open the the nurses demands.

The minister said he would prefer hospitals not resort to private agency nurses. But, sometimes they have no choice, he said.