(Montreal) The common front of the public sector and the FIQ will give a chance to negotiation and conciliation in the coming days, before announcing other strike days, if necessary.
The 420,000 members of the common front, which is made up of the CSN, the CSQ, the APTS and the FTQ, returned to work on Friday, after having walked off the job for three consecutive days.
The Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), which represents 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists, went on strike for two days, Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE), which represents 66,000 teachers at the primary and secondary levels, began an indefinite general strike on Thursday.
Neither the FIQ nor the common front feel ready to announce other strike days.
“For the moment, we want to give the negotiation a chance. But we remain ready,” the FIQ said on Friday.
The common front will meet on Sunday to take stock, but it is not certain that it will then decide to announce new strike days or an indefinite strike, as its strike mandate allows it.
“It could be postponed. What we’re doing on Sunday is really taking stock, the state of the situation, what’s happening at the tables, the arrival of the conciliator and the state of play. And, from there, will we be able to move forward directly or will we have to wait a few more days? It will be something to see,” summarized Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ, in an interview.
In conciliation
The common front requested the intervention of a conciliator from the Ministry of Labor a few days ago.
After holding meetings separately with the management and union parties, he held tripartite meetings, said Mr. Gingras.
“There have been meetings where the conciliator was present, while both parties were at the table, as there are times when it is separate and there is back and forth. So, it’s been happening at several levels since Tuesday,” summarized the president of the CSQ.
Although Quebec and the common front do not agree on the scope of the conciliator’s mandate — Quebec wants to exclude salaries and the pension plan — Mr. Gingras remains hopeful.
“We have hopes. We’ve been trying to make things happen from the start. Can I tell you that we are close to an agreement? Of course not ! But we think that there is a “momentum” that is there, and we just want to give it space,” added Mr. Gingras.
On Thursday, Prime Minister François Legault said he was ready to improve his offer if the unions concerned showed more “flexibility” in the organization of work.
Has the common front already heard of this improved offer? “No at all,” replies Mr. Gingras.
The four members of the common front replied that they were waiting to see what this improved offer would include before judging. And they already felt they were showing flexibility. “Let’s just say we’re not holding our breath,” concluded Mr. Gingras.