The President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, once again defends her “historic” offers to workers in early childhood centers (CPE), while the indefinite strike of union members of the CSN continues and that of union members of the CSQ is due to start on Thursday.
In an interview with 98.5 FM Monday morning, Minister LeBel said she found it “absurd” that the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS), affiliated with the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), is going on strike unlimited, while Quebec has submitted “historic offers” for salary increases.
The Minister specifies that the increases she offers now reach 18 to 20% over three years for educators and about 11% for support employees in early childhood centers.
She reiterated that her offer means $ 30 per hour at the top of the ladder for educators, or at the 12th step.
The demands of the CSN “to the ceiling”
Ms. LeBel underlined that the demands of the unions of the Federation of Early Childhood Intervenors (FIPEQ), affiliated with the Centrale des unions du Québec (CSQ), and of the Quebec Union of Service Employees (SQEES), affiliated with the Federation of workers of Quebec (FTQ), were more reasonable now, while those of the CSN were “at the ceiling”.
“Apart from the CSN, we are on the same dance floor with the others,” she concluded.
“The CSN maintains its demand for similar increases to educators” for support employees in childcare centers, which is not the case for the other two union organizations, said Minister LeBel.
She once again ruled out the idea of introducing special legislation to end the indefinite strike. A special law is an “absolute last resort,” she said.
Sonia LeBel says she still believes in the possibility of an agreement with the unions, even after several months of negotiations. “I can’t believe we won’t make it. “
She also ruled out the idea that Prime Minister François Legault is now involved in the matter, as the opposition parties and the union grouping requested on Sunday, during a joint press conference.
She explained that he was already aware of the issues and that she kept him up to date on a regular basis.
The indefinite strike by union members of the FSSS, affiliated with the CSN, began last Wednesday. That of the FIPEQ, affiliated with the CSQ, could begin Thursday, unless there is significant progress at the tables by then.