(Montreal) Negotiations between Quebec and public sector unions must take an important turn on Sunday. The president of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, must submit her new offer in a context of imminent strikes.
The first days of strike have already been announced by the common front, made up of the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS – which represents 420,000 members – as well as the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) which represents 80,000 nurses and other health professionals.
The 65,000 teachers of the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) have also given themselves a strike mandate, but we do not know exactly when it will be exercised.
The common front should react on Sunday morning following the submission of the new offer from Quebec.
Thousands of public sector workers, such as nurses or those who work in residential and long-term care centers (CHSLD), will know at that time if their bonuses will continue to be paid or if Quebec has rather chose to interrupt their payment to put pressure on the unions.
In September, Minister LeBel committed to maintaining these bonuses until December, the time to finalize the negotiation of collective agreements, but on the express condition that the unions reduce the number of their sectoral demands.
All of these bonuses are worth 600 million, Minister LeBel said in an interview. This can amount to several thousand dollars for each worker affected.