(Quebec) Faced with an impasse in negotiations for the renewal of public sector collective agreements, the Legault government appoints a conciliator, at the request of the Union Common Front, in the hope of reaching an agreement.
On the eve of a three-day strike by 420,000 public sector workers represented by the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS (i.e. the Common Front), the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, confirmed Monday that he acceded to their request to have a conciliator at the negotiating table. The objective is “to arrive as quickly as possible at a negotiated agreement with the Common Front unions,” said Mr. Boulet.
For the unions, this is an “exceptional measure”, in the context where “requesting the intervention of a conciliator at the central table has never been done”, they say.
“Since the beginning, the government has played a large role in the public space and on social networks. Our members are tired of these public relations strategies to the detriment of real work at the tables and so are we. Conciliation therefore appears to be a way to move forward to another stage and arrive at a satisfactory settlement,” added the union leaders.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Sonia LeBel
The President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, for her part affirmed that the government is taking all “means to [sa] available to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. Last weekend, she published a video on X to demand more flexibility from unions. Negotiation days have been added to the calendar this week, while workers will be on strike.
The latest government offer is a 10.3% salary increase over five years, in addition to a lump sum of $1,000 in the first year. Added to this is a sum equivalent to 3% reserved for “government priorities”, which means that the government presents its offer as worth 14.8% over five years. The unions rejected this offer, calling it “derisory”. They did not make a counter-offer, which is also what Quebec is demanding.
Thousands of workers on strike
The Inter-Union Common Front, which is made up of the CSN, the APTS, the CSQ and the FTQ, and which represents 420,000 members, will get the ball rolling this week with its walkout which will take place on November 21, 22 and 23 . This strike will affect health, social services, schools and college establishments. In particular, all public schools in Quebec will be closed, from elementary to college.
Then the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), which has 80,000 nurses and other healthcare professionals, will in turn walk off the job on November 23 and 24.
As of Thursday, November 23, the 66,000 teachers of the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) will begin an indefinite general strike. This will affect public schools in certain school service centers in Montreal, Quebec, Estrie, Montérégie and Outaouais.
With Lila Dussault and The Canadian Press