Instead of reciting the letters of the alphabet, Giacomo will roll pizza dough at the restaurant of his father, Alessandro Bleve, co-owner of Stella Pizzeria, in Montreal. The latter, who must himself ensure the replacement of certain employees who have taken leave to look after their children, has no other choice but to come to work with his 5-year-old son.
“He will roll out some dough, and when he is tired, we will place him on a stool so that he can draw,” says Nathalie Côté, associate of Mr. Bleve. Far from being inconvenienced by the idea of welcoming a little apprentice, Mme Côté is aware that next week will have to be flexible.
In addition to having to deal with the needs of her employees, she expects to welcome a lot of families to her restaurant on Laurier Avenue East, open at dinner time. “It’s going to be like a spring break,” she illustrates. On the last day of the strike, I remember the restaurant was full of families. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
From left to right: Alessandro Bleve, co-owner of Stella Pizzeria, with his sons Levan, 12 years old, and Giacomo, 5 years old, and Nathalie Côté, co-owner of the establishment.
In the retail sector, we believe we are facing the same scenario.
With a majority of parents on leave, it’s a safe bet that the stores will be busy. We are entering the peak period of Black Friday and the holiday season. This season is crucial for our merchants.
Manuel Champagne, general director of Détail Québec, retail workforce sector committee
“The sector is already experiencing a severe labor shortage,” he recalls. I can confirm to you that employers will adapt and be accommodating to accommodate their teams. It’s a question of staff retention. Everyone will do their part to ensure maximum business opening hours. It is not possible to miss the biggest sales season of the year. »
At Decathlon, a sports and outdoor clothing retailer, employees will be allowed to bring their children to play in the gyms set up in each store.
Vicky Scalia, co-founder of L’Interval shoe stores, recognizes that the situation is delicate as a “crazy period” begins in the industry. While she expects to have to juggle schedules due to vacation requests for next week, Mme Scalia is not overly worried. “We did it during the pandemic,” she said, adding that she understood the parents’ situation, being a mother herself. The owner of L’interval will easily welcome the children of her employees who have found no other solution than to come and work with their offspring.
Flexibility
As for grocers and the SAQ, no particular measures have been taken, but all assure that they will show flexibility towards their employees who cannot all work from home. Same story at Armatures Bois-Francs. In this company, which has factories in Victoriaville and Châteauguay in addition to several construction sites, President Éric Bernier promises two things: “Flexibility and understanding. »
It’s sure that it’s disruptive and disturbing, but we understand the situation. Our employees who will not have grandpa, grandma, my uncle or my aunt to take care of the children, we will allow them to work remotely when possible, to make their schedule since we have several quarters.
Éric Bernier, president of Armatures Bois-Francs
It estimates that 350 of its 500 employees are parents of young children and will be affected by the strikes. “The vast majority find solutions within their circle of friends and their parents,” he says.
The majority of financial institution employees already have the option of working from home. For those who have to go to the branches, they will be able to discuss with their manager to find the preferred option, says Jean-Benoît Turcotti, at Desjardins. Alexandre Guy, from the National Bank, indicates solutions such as a flexible schedule and the use of leave. Merick Seguin, of the Laurentian Bank, recalls that “these are internal processes which are now well oiled; the pandemic had brought its share of unforeseen events, including school closures.”
Other solutions
Karate schools that usually offer day camps during spring break and summer have decided to open their doors especially for parents. In Montreal, Karate Sportif NDG/CSL will welcome children from 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to Friday for $180.
The Sunfuki St-Canut Karate school in Mirabel offers “The strike camp” at $35 per day. The owner Nicolas Saulnier put the ad on Facebook on Wednesday and, already, around ten parents have contacted him. “We expect to have 40 children per day,” he maintains, “and our two daughters aged 14 and 15, who will not have school either, will come and help us. It’s going to be fun. Our activities are ready. »
“It’s going to be an incredible puzzle”
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
François Vincent, vice-president, Quebec, of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Closing schools will be an “incredible headache” for businesses, especially smaller ones that cannot count on teleworking, warns François Vincent, vice-president, Quebec, of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) .
“We won’t be able to change tires during a busy period,” he recalls in an interview. Holiday parties organized in restaurants cannot be served from home. You cannot change windows by Zoom or by Teams. »
A recent survey commissioned by the CFIB confirms his analysis: last October, 57% of SME owners said they were concerned about the potential impact of a public sector strike on their business and small businesses in Quebec. Combined with the labor shortage, this work stoppage will likely cause a slowdown in activities.
“There will be loss of contracts,” believes Mr. Vincent.
This tile adds to a difficult context that the CFIB has repeatedly recalled, namely the difficulty that many businesses will have in repaying the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan before January 18, 2024. . If they do not meet this deadline, they will lose the grant portion, up to $20,000.
The CFIB’s message in the circumstances: “The government must consider all scenarios and all available toolboxes so as not to drag out this labor dispute. »
The CCMM “listens”
At the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), President and CEO Michel Leblanc sums up his attitude as follows: “We let the situation happen, we listen to businesses. We try to measure and quantify the problems. Once it’s triggered, it’s our role to put pressure on it to be resolved. »
He expects that organizations that can resort to teleworking, notably the CCMM which had announced a 100% return to the office, will quickly regain the reflexes acquired with the pandemic.
“Even in companies where people have returned to the office, like us, it is certain that all employees who have young children will be able to work from home until the strike ends. »
But for many sectors where teleworking is impossible, he expects “an immediate effect of loss of productivity”. “We cannot meet the basic needs of the population with strikes that prevent the basic functioning of society. At some point, we ask the government to act, as we have done in the past. Not by demanding that one side accept the other’s terms, but by saying that the strike must be ended through mediation, arbitration, or possibly even special legislation. »