Common front: the agreement in principle will be presented to 420,000 workers

The leaders of the Common Front praised on Sunday the progress resulting from the agreement in principle with Quebec including a wage increase of 17.4% over five years, and this agreement will soon be in the hands of the workers who will have to decide.

• Read also: Public sector negotiations: important meetings in Quebec

• Read also: The Common Front obtained a salary increase of 17.4% over five years

“Our members wanted the thanks of the pandemic to translate into good working conditions. Our people were strong, our people supported us,” insisted François Enault, first vice-president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), at a press briefing.

The Common Front also includes the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), the Federation of Quebec Workers (FTQ) and the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS).

The group reached an agreement with the government on December 28. It will be submitted to workers in a round of general assemblies between January 15 and the third week of February.

“The members have the floor,” said Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ.

Salary increases amounting to 17.4% over five years are planned, including one of 6% which would be retroactive to April 1, 2023.

It is also estimated that the Legault government managed to increase its initial offer by $2 billion.

Historical

In the public sector, “this 6% is still a first in around forty years in Quebec,” argued Éric Gingras.

These increases “reflect[nt] our choice to invest in order to be an attractive employer and to ensure the sustainability of our networks,” responded Sonia LeBel, president of the Treasury Board, in a statement.

“These figures are important to name,” emphasized Éric Gingras. After that, we can still ask ourselves: why wait a year and a half and reach a settlement between Christmas and New Year’s Day?

Note also that members of the Common Front could count on a full week of vacation in the 19th year of employment, rather than the 25th.

“It’s been decades since there has been any development on this side, so it’s a major gain,” rejoices Magali Picard, president of the FTQ, who recommends the agreement of principle.

Agreements and plans

Among the other highlights celebrated by the chiefs, we note that the phased retirement agreements could extend to 7 years rather than 5 years.

Participation in the retirement plan for government and public body employees (RREGOP) would be possible up to age 71.

“We are still very happy that the government has backed down on some of its initial demands, because that would have the effect of reducing the retirement pension, while our plan is in full health,” underlined Robert Comeau, president of the APTS.

The Common Front judges that Quebecers will not pay for these large sums which will be paid by Quebec.

“Government revenues increase, when there is inflation, we see it,” says in an interview with The newspaperFrançois Enault.

“The population has been clear on this. We wanted to have quality public services. We did not want to relive the nightmare that we experienced with the schools in September and everything that happened during the pandemic,” he adds.

-With the QMI Agency

The strong points

– 6% salary increase in feedback for April 1, 2023;

– Salary indexation clause of one percent for the last three years of the agreement, if the increase is less than inflation;

– Participation in the retirement plan for government and public sector employees up to age 71;

– A fifth full week of vacation on the 19th^e year of employment.