Coming from the four corners of the province, tens of thousands of Quebec public sector workers gathered on Saturday in Montreal to denounce the offers of the CAQ government in union negotiations. “Wake up, our people are angry,” warns the Common Front union alliance for Quebec.
“We are going to replace teachers, but at $16 an hour! », protests Claudine Girard, a daycare educator from Saint-Lazare, in Lac-Saint-Jean. Standing in the middle of a green-turquoise sea – the color of the Common Front –, gathered at the foot of Mount Royal, Mme Girard says she is ready to go as far as an indefinite general strike to make her point. “We do specialized work, but we are paid like nothing,” she adds. We need good conditions! »
Workers from Lac-Saint-Jean like Claudine Girard came in large numbers, she says. “We filled an entire plane! ” They are not the only ones. Dozens of school buses parked on Avenue du Parc in Montreal bear witness to the mobilization.
A little earlier at a press conference, the president of the Quebec Federation of Workers (FTQ), Magali Picard, stressed that she has never seen such enthusiasm among members.
Votes in favor of strikes, which could lead to an indefinite general strike, have been held in the province since Monday and will continue until October 13, explained François Énault, first vice-president of the CSN.
We haven’t had such participation in a long time, and to date, we have 93% of the votes in favor of the strike. Our members are ready, even if we don’t hope to get that far.
François Énault, first vice-president of the CSN
The Common Front brings together 420,000 workers in education, health and social services and higher education, from the CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS unions.
” It does not go through ”
Workers are demanding concrete improvements in their working conditions, salary catch-up and protection against inflation. “The government is only offering 9% over five years in salary increases,” writes the Common Front ahead of the event. What is on the table is not even a serious basis for negotiation. »
The government offer is all the worse given the 30% salary increase for MPs voted by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) earlier this year. Or again, faced with the offer of a 21% increase proposed to employees of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), which was refused by the police.
” It does not go through ! », decides François Énault at a press conference. His message to the Quebec government: “Wake up, because our people are angry. »
An opportunity to discuss with the population
Union leaders say Saturday’s demonstration sets the tone for a “hot autumn” for public sector negotiations. They also invite the population to take the opportunity to come and discuss with the workers to understand the demands.
“If we go as far as an indefinite strike, I think the population will be behind us,” also assured Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ. He recalled that during the pandemic, thanks showered on public sector workers, but that now members are “full of it”.
To add to the frustration, the CAQ government also recently announced that it was putting an end to certain bonuses that had been renewed since the start of the pandemic. “Quebec state workers are the lowest paid across Canada,” lamented Magali Picard, recalling that 78% of the members of the Common Front are also women.
Better conditions, better wages
Maude Berthe-Thérien, Ibtissam Yahiaoui El Mohi and Kériane Malette, three nurses from Laval, are also on hand to make themselves heard. “We are here for our working conditions, which continue to be mediocre,” explains M.me Berthe-Thérien. “And here we want to remove our bonuses,” adds Mme Briefcase. “There is still compulsory additional work, people are leaving, we are tired,” she summarizes.
“We also want to be well paid,” adds Mme Yahiaoui El Mohi.
Negotiations that drag on
Negotiations between the government of Quebec and the Common Front have been going on for several months already. The Common Front had submitted its demands in the fall of 2022; Quebec submitted its offers in December.
Quebec offers raises of 9% over five years to state employees, plus a lump sum of $1,000 the first year. To this, he adds a sum equivalent to 2.5% reserved for “government priorities”, which means that he presents his offer as worth 13% over five years.
The Common Front is instead demanding a three-year contract, with $100 per week for the first year or the Consumer Price Index plus 2% – whichever formula would be most advantageous for workers – then the CPI plus 3% in the second year and the CPI plus 4% in the third year.
The march will end in the Quartier des spectacles.
With The Canadian Press