The Legault government presented a new salary offer to the unions on Wednesday, while the Common Front is due to begin a seven-day strike on Friday.
“I am awaiting official feedback from the two unions which represent all teachers in Quebec. For the rest, we are still in discussion with the common front and we continue with the FIQ, so we are progressing,” said the president of the Treasury Council laconically as she left the council of ministers on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Legault had already signaled his intention to revise upwards the government proposal, which had been deemed “derisory” and “insulting” by the union leaders of the Common Front, during its presentation on October 29.
Salary increases of 10.3% in five years were then on the table, in addition to a lump sum for all of $1,000 the first year and bonuses representing 3% for certain categories of workers, including nurses who work the night and weekend. The minister announced that the offer increased to 12.7%, making an overall offer of 16.7%.
- Listen to the interview with Magali Picard, president of the FTQ with Yasmine Abdelfadel via QUB radio:
For its part, the Common Front is demanding increases of around 23% in three years. The latter has already announced that the strike from December 8 to 14 would take place.
This afternoon’s offer concerns all unions, namely the Common Front (CSN, FTQ, APTS, CSQ), the FAE, the FIQ, the SFPQ and the SPGQ.
This new salary offer will be presented while union members from the FAE and the Common Front will storm Parliament Hill on Thursday and Friday.
The FAE has been on an indefinite general strike since November 23, and the Common Front has announced seven consecutive days of strikes from December 8 to 14.