Merchants in L’Isle-aux-Coudres fear a “catastrophic” tourist season in the event of a new ferry strike. Islanders are turning to the Prime Minister to end the labour dispute at the STQ.
The two-day strike over the Saint-Jean-Baptiste weekend hurt the merchants of L’Isle-aux-Coudres. Hoteliers saw their reservations drop by 70%, according to Guy Rousset, president of the Cap-aux-Pierres hotel. [Cette diminution de l’achalandage]it’s for the whole island,” he said in an interview with the Duty. “There were a few ferries in the morning and a few ferries in the evening. Despite that, the ferries were half empty. People said to themselves that they are not going to go to the island because it is going to be a mess.”
He and four other business figures from the picturesque Charlevoix island sent a joint letter Tuesday to Premier François Legault to urge him to get involved in the labour dispute between the Société des traversiers (STQ) and its employees. The Steelworkers union has at least eight more strike days where it could interrupt the crossings to put pressure on the government. The union could carry out its threat this summer, although no other strike days have been announced for the moment.
“This situation is catastrophic for a population that not only depends on tourism, but also needs a reliable link between the continent and L’Isle-aux-Coudres to ensure its safety and that of its visitors,” insist the business people in the letter, the Duty got a copy.
“If it hadn’t been for this standoff between the government, the STQ and ferry employees, our season was looking pretty good. But now, it’s becoming catastrophic,” assures Guy Rousset.
A rumor is circulating on the island about potential strike days during the construction holidays. The Steelworkers union denies this information. Nevertheless, the mere possibility of a new strike is hurting the region’s tourism industry, 90% of whose turnover is concentrated during the four months of the summer season. About ten reservations are being recorded each day at Guy Rousset’s hotel these days, while he says he receives nearly 70 on average in normal times. “The mere fact that it’s been announced is destructive,” he says.
The government’s desire to relaunch the third link project in the capital, while some regions are waiting for a first reliable link, constitutes for him a lack of consideration for all of Eastern Quebec. “We have the impression of being insignificant for the political powers.”
Negotiation days between the STQ and the Metalworkers union are planned for the month of July. STQ communications even claim to have “added an additional day of negotiations before the dates targeted by the strike rumor.”
STQ navigation officers and mechanics have been without an employment contract since March 2023 and have not had a salary increase since April 2022. Negotiations are mainly stumbling over salaries and the use of subcontracting.
This story is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.