“We’ve never seen that! We are so overwhelmed! We are an alternative to the SAQ, ”bluntly launches Louis-Philippe Mercier, sommelier and co-owner of La Boîte à vins. Disappointed customers, due to the lack of choice that currently afflicts the branches of the Crown corporation, are turning overwhelmingly to one or the other of its two branches where it exclusively sells Quebec wines and ciders. The latter does not need to go through the network of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ).
Due to the three-day strike started in November by the 800 employees of the SAQ warehouses as well as by those responsible for delivering the bottles, the branches of the state-owned company are struggling to replenish their shelves. Recall that union members rejected Monday by 86% the agreement in principle reached between the two parties. Negotiations will resume on Wednesday. It is impossible for the moment to know if another strike will be called. Meanwhile, the almost empty shelves are pushing wine lovers to find other solutions, like La Boîte à vins, whose unusual traffic can also be explained by the approach of the holiday season.
” [La situation à la SAQ] sends us customers, says Mr. Mercier, who adds in the process that many of those who push the door of his shop in the Rosemont district, in Montreal, or that of Vieux-Longueuil come back from a brief visit to the SAQ . We are completely independent from the SAQ network. ”
Louis-Philippe Mercier and his team deal directly with more than a hundred Quebec producers. They don’t have to go through the crown corporation’s distribution centers. “We are sure to always be able to get supplies,” he proudly emphasizes.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Romain Saurel and Jean-Philippe Mercier, co-owners of La Boîte à vins
Charles-Henri de Coussergues, co-founder of the l’Orpailleur vineyard, also believes that he will soon feel the impacts resulting from the difficulty of supplying the SAQ.
I think we risk having a lot of orders on our transactional site.
Charles-Henri de Coussergues, co-founder of the l’Orpailleur vineyard
A craze that could give it a boost, since its bottles intended for the SAQ – 40% of its production – are struggling to land on the shelves.
The Marché des Saveurs, located at the Jean-Talon market, has also seen “new customers” enter the store in the hope of having a choice. The store also specializes in Quebec wines, we have been confirmed.
Bail out branches
Meanwhile, Catherine Dagenais, President and CEO of the SAQ, considers restocking of its branches a priority. Will there be enough wine and spirits at Christmas? “Definitely,” she replied in a telephone interview with Press, Tuesday. The intention is to have the right stocks for the holiday season. The usual product may not be available. But we have plenty of products. ”
In addition to the three-day strike on November 16, 22 and 23, the pressure tactics exerted by employees in November had an impact on the supply of branches, according to Mr.me Dagenais. “There has been a slowdown. The employees did not work overtime at a time of the year when it is still usually done. She adds that consumers, for their part, rushed to the SAQ to stock up on “provisions”.
Since their return last week, [les travailleurs] have started working overtime again, she emphasizes, however. It allows us to catch up a bit. Obviously, it will take a few days, even a few weeks, before the situation is normal.
Catherine Dagenais, President and CEO of the SAQ
What if ever another strike was called? “This is not desirable,” she says. We will do the best we can to serve our customers. ”
“A truce would be very appropriate if we want to concentrate our efforts [pour] sit down, negotiate, find solutions and reach an agreement satisfactory to both parties, ”she added.
Regarding the rejection of the agreement in principle, Catherine Dagenais said she was surprised and disappointed. “Especially since both parties were comfortable, confident that it would pass. ”
As for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), no representative was available to give interviews on Tuesday. “All energies will be deployed at the negotiating table in order to reach a new agreement”, could we read in the press release issued by the union.
“As the Holidays approach, we want all Quebecers to have access to SAQ products and therefore we are committing to [ce mercredi] in new intensive talks with management, also said Michel Gratton, CUPE union adviser. We have heard from our members and we return to the table in a better position. ”
It should be remembered that the 800 salaried workers of the two SAQ warehouses as well as those responsible for delivering the bottles went on strike for three days in November, in particular because of disagreements over wages, job security and health and safety measures. safety at work. The two distribution centers, located in Montreal and Quebec City, supply all of the Crown corporation’s 409 branches and 429 agencies. A first assembly was held in the metropolis on Sunday and the second took place in the national capital on Monday at the end of the day.