(Montreal) The professionals at Revenu Québec finally endorsed 85% of the agreement in principle that had been reached regarding the renewal of their collective agreement.
These are 5,800 professionals, who work in administration, communications, verification, collection and investigations, accounting, among others. They are members of the Syndicate of Professionals of the Government of Quebec (SPGQ) – a large union independent of the centrals.
The collective agreement will be for four years, until March 31, 2024, which exceeds by one year other collective agreements in the public sector, which expire next March.
It provides for increases of 2% per year in 2020, 2021 and 2022 with a trailer clause with the public sector for the year 2023, with a minimum of 1%. This kind of clause means that members of the SPGQ at Revenu Québec will receive the same increase as their peers in the public sector will obtain that year, with a minimum of 1%.
“These negotiations have been long and trying for our members who have been coping with galloping inflation for several months. While we can rejoice that we have reached an agreement after two years of arduous negotiations, we cannot claim victory or pop the champagne. Admittedly, the lump sums obtained will help combat the rise in the cost of living, but they do not in any way affect the overall compensation gap that persists with the Canada Revenue Agency,” commented the president of the SPGQ, Guillaume Bouvrette, by press release.
The employment contract also provides for the creation of a committee on the expertise, attraction and retention of professionals.
It also includes a 10% bonus in areas of specialization such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
The agreement also provides for the possibility of working a compressed four-day schedule.
It also includes an improvement in the employer’s participation in the drug insurance plan, specified the SPGQ.