Union members demonstrated in front of the constituency office of François Legault in L’Assomption, Friday noon, in support of the strikers of the Quebec Cannabis Society.
The general and indefinite strike by members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, began on May 28, after a few days of strike action.
The demonstrators wanted to symbolically ask Prime Minister François Legault to intervene to bring about an agreement between the parties.
“We’ve been sending out the message for several weeks that it’s high time to settle, but we haven’t had any new offers,” said CUPE local president David Clément.
The new president of the FTQ, Magali Picard, took the floor to motivate the troops, who have been on strike for nearly nine months now.
Mr. Clément reports that “there are still discussions taking place” between the parties, but no new offer. The last one, in December, was rejected by 94% by the members.
Until recently, the management of the SQDC said it was always open “to continue discussions with CUPE representatives in order to reach a negotiated agreement to the satisfaction of the parties concerned”.
Salary is the main point in dispute. CUPE is demanding a salary for its members comparable to that of other government corporations, such as the Société des alcools du Québec, ie at least $20 an hour. Currently, CUPE union members earn $17.12 per hour when hired.
CUPE represents about 300 union members.
The SQDC has 93 branches, half of which have a union.