(Montreal) The 5,800 professionals at Revenu Québec have just given themselves a mandate for pressure tactics that can go as far as an indefinite strike.
The date of the exercise of this strike has not yet been decided, but it could well occur in the middle of the tax filing period.
These 5,800 workers are members of the Syndicate of Professionals of the Government of Quebec (SPGQ), a large union independent of the centrals. They work in administration, information technology, audit, collections and investigations, human resources, among others.
“All of this will be determined by our union bodies, to find the right moment. What is certain is that we want to give time for the discussions to take place at the negotiating table to reach a settlement and avoid this labor dispute, “said Guillaume Bouvrette, president of the SPGQ, in an interview. .
The mandate for pressure tactics that could go as far as an unlimited general strike was adopted by 84%.
In fact, this is a new strike mandate for these professionals at Revenu Québec, since they have already been on strike evenings and weekends since last September, explained Mr. Bouvrette.
Despite this second mandate, he said he hoped not to have to come to the exercise of the strike.
“It was not with light of heart that our members gave us this mandate”, but the employment contract expired in the spring of 2020 and the numerous negotiation and conciliation meetings did not make it possible to conclude a agreement, he explained.
Remuneration is the main point in dispute.
In the event of a strike, essential services should be provided, in particular for the maintenance of support payments.