This morning of Monday, November 6, I took the bus and went to the picket line in front of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital. Why this particular hospital? Because my partner and I were treated there (and treated very well!) on several occasions. HMR is THE large hospital in eastern Montreal. A mammoth where thousands of workers dedicate themselves in premises that are often dilapidated and unsuitable.
On my way, several groups demonstrated energetically in front of primary and secondary schools. I noticed that many motorists and truckers were honking their horns in good humor. In front of the hospital, there were at least 200 of them. Yes, there were also workers, but frankly, we are talking here about very many women mobilized in front of a government which, for the moment, is not giving in anything.
Above all, I wanted to listen to these women and men. I asked them to tell me about their daily lives.
I insisted: “Tell me why you, personally, are picketing on the sidewalk this morning!” » The responses were quick. A social worker says: “Because it’s unfair! I work hard. The government doesn’t even want to help me deal with inflation! But above all, I can no longer bear being forced to limit the services I offer to people in dire need, simply due to lack of staff. Doesn’t the government understand that? Wages that are too low, workers who leave the network, insufficient services. I cry sometimes! »
Then, a woman takes me aside. She said to me: “Do you understand that, Ms. David, when there was a pandemic, the government called us its guardian angels. I left the house at 6 a.m. to do my day at the hospital while the majority of people could work from home. I envied them, but I did the work. Because it’s my job! What I’m asking for now is better pay and decent working conditions. Above all: respect! »
A tradesman adds: “I have good working conditions, but the salary doesn’t keep up. A young person starting to work in the construction industry is paid more than me with all my experience. If I didn’t work overtime, I wouldn’t make it. Moreover, several colleagues are leaving, they see that elsewhere, in the private sector, they are better paid. This is not normal! »
A technician who works in a digital imaging diagnostics department talks to me at length about her work. She’s overloaded. Overtime is common. She started getting involved with the union because she saw colleagues leaving the public sector and running to agencies. Not just because of insufficient salaries. Especially because the working conditions are better there. She wonders how much longer she will be able to stay in the public sector without losing her health.
I listen to these women and men and I cannot help but think that the Legault government is missing a great opportunity to demonstrate its support for public services that are going badly, too badly. Not because the people who work there don’t put in the effort necessary to accomplish their tasks. No ! Thousands of workers are demanding that we give them the means to do their job well! They love their patients. They love our children. They want to adequately support seniors. And of course, they demand a salary that allows them to cope with the brutal rise in the cost of living. An increase of which we do not see the end.
Even if it means being told that I don’t understand anything about economics (I’m smiling, here), I plead that if the Quebec state has the means to subsidize the Northvolt company to the tune of 7 billion and to lower everyone’s taxes , including the richest, this same State has the means to pay its staff correctly.
Or maybe it’s the Legault government that doesn’t understand the social and economic benefits that efficient public services bring to all regions. Nor does he subscribe to a feminist conception of economics. A vision that recognizes the immense work accomplished by the women of Quebec. I’m not talking about the eternal pat on the back here. I’m talking about wages and working conditions.
I know, it will not be easy to face the inconvenience of further strike days. Many grandparents will be mobilized as children’s entertainers. I will be part of it! But if we said to ourselves this: “If these hundreds of thousands of women and men need to mobilize in this way for a government to listen to reason, well, let’s support them! »
Because it’s true that it’s unfair. The Quebec of today and tomorrow is not only that of dams, roads, power lines, batteries. It is also and perhaps above all that of the well-being of the population and the respect due to those who work tirelessly to make our lives better.