Quebec is promising government civil servants, workers and professionals salary increases similar to those granted to the Common Front. In return, he is asking the Quebec Public and Parapublic Service Union (SFPQ) and the Quebec Government Professional Union (SPGQ) for concessions in terms of their sectoral demands.
On Friday, these two unions left empty-handed from negotiations with their employer, the government of Quebec. Talks for the renewal of their collective agreements resumed this week after a break during the holiday season.
“Although the employer is dangling the offer of a 17.4% salary increase submitted to the Common Front, it has not taken the initiative to formally submit it,” indicates the SPGQ negotiating committee in a email sent to its 25,000 professional members of the public service. The SPFQ, which represents 27,000 civil servants and 4,000 government workers, received the same signal.
The two unions received the employer’s request to make concessions concerning their sectoral demands: in particular those linked to teleworking or the recognition of years of experience to compensate for the lack of diplomas among civil servants.
The workers are also demanding bonuses to make up for the salary gap they are experiencing compared to the private sector. According to a study by the Institute of Statistics of Quebec (ISQ) published a little over a month ago, Quebec government workers have overall remuneration approximately 26% lower than similar jobs in the private sector.
Negotiations will resume on Monday for the SPFQ and the SPGQ.
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