Camouflage pants are back in the corridors of the Montreal courthouse. “Desperate”, the special constables turn to this once again legal “means of visibility” to urge the Legault government to ratify their collective agreement.
“It’s a formality! There is one last step left. The Council of Ministers must ratify it. The special constables are angry. They are really discouraged. Morale is very, very low,” says Franck Perales, president of the Union of Special Constables of the Government of Quebec.
After more than three years of negotiations with the Treasury Board, the special constables — the peace officers in courthouses — voted 90% in favor of an agreement in principle last June. A “very good understanding”, according to Franck Perales.
However, four months later, the new collective agreement has still not been ratified by the Quebec government. In the meantime, the special constables are “losing” money, protests the president of the union.
“The government is making savings on the backs of the constables, because the agreement in principle provides that several financial aspects would come into effect when the collective agreement comes into force. The Council of Ministers must sign it,” says Franck Perales.
Until further notice, special constables will wear camouflage pants in courthouse corridors. This means of union visibility was banned by the Couillard government in 2017. However, the Superior Court ruled that this law was unconstitutional, since it violates the freedom of expression and association of peace officers.
However, special constables will not wear such clothing in the courtroom in order to respect a decision of the Administrative Labor Tribunal. A judge could in fact order a constable to change his clothes, which would be considered as slowing down his work.