Thousands of turquoise flags fly Saturday afternoon in downtown Montreal, on the occasion of the demonstration of the common inter-union front of the public sector, which says it is ready to launch an unlimited general strike if the government of Quebec does not present it not a “respectable” offer.
This march is taking place in parallel with the negotiations of collective agreements for union members with Quebec.
The presidents of the four unions that form the common front, the CSQ, the FTQ, the APTS and the CSN, spoke to the media ahead of the march, while dozens of yellow buses unloaded demonstrators near the park Jeanne-Mance.
The front represents 420,000 workers in public services, including the fields of health, social services, education and higher education.
“People are angry,” summarized François Enault, vice-president of the CSN, referring to Quebec’s proposal to increase the salaries of public sector workers by 9% in five years. This is an insufficient offer “which does not pass”, indicated Mr. Enault.
Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ, also expressed the fed up of union members.
“We were told thank yous as big as an arm, we were told that we were guardian angels throughout the pandemic. When it’s time to pay for good working conditions, they no longer listen to us,” he said.
The common front also says it is ready to launch an indefinite general strike if the government does not move.
“We don’t hope to get there, it’s a last resort that we will use. We are preparing to do it, because it takes a long time to have strike mandates in the public sector, said Robert Comeau, president of the APTS. Our people are ready. »
“If you look at the number of school buses that are here, of chartered planes that left Abitibi this morning, our people are ready, because they have nothing left to lose,” added the president. of the FTQ, Magali Picard.
Ms. Picard believes that Quebec must consider itself “lucky” that the common front organized this demonstration.
“This is their chance to take the opportunity to come forward and be serious this time with respectable offers,” she added.
Participants in the march gathered around 1 p.m. at Jeanne-Mance Park, and headed towards the Quartier des spectacles.