The three largest labor centers in Quebec strengthen their alliance. A “common front” of 355,000 unionized employees will await the government during the next negotiations in the public sector.
The ink has barely dried on certain employment contracts, due to the deadlines imposed by the pandemic, that the unions are already preparing the new round of negotiations with Quebec. The agreements in force end in March 2023 and, by law, union demands must be submitted no later than the end of next October.
The Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), the Federation of Quebec Workers (FTQ) and the Central Trade Unions of Quebec (CSQ) thus invited the press on Sunday to present what they call “the greatest possible alliance” .
“We are all together, they will not be able to play us against each other”, explains to the HomeworkDaniel Boyer, President of the FTQ.
This new alliance notably includes a non-marauding pact and identical trade union demands from the different parties.
The main demands of this “common front” will revolve around wage increases to offset inflation. Quebec predicts that the cost of living will increase by 4.7% in 2022. “If we have to negotiate for 5 years, it takes some protection of purchasing power,” anticipates François Enault, first vice-president of the CSN. […] “One thing the pandemic has demonstrated is the importance of public services, and their fragility. »
“We want to avoid the psychodrama of negotiations and not wait two years to settle collective agreements,” said Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ. He assures that he does not want “no confrontation” with the government at the negotiating table. “We still have to be heard. »
For 50 years, 11 of the 14 rounds of negotiations in the public sector have opposed a union common front to the government.