2024 - The anger of state employees reflects a worrying sickness

Quebec is experiencing a historic strike movement. It has been decades since we have seen such mobilization.

What is most striking is how angry state employees are. This discontent can be heard, it can be read, it can be measured in the strike votes and in the crowds on the marches or on the picket lines.

The extreme case is the FAE. The Autonomous Federation of Education goes on an indefinite general strike. They say they are ready to hold out until Christmas, without a strike fund. This means that the 66,000 teachers on strike will not receive a penny of compensation during the conflict. Quite a sacrifice that adds to the anger!

An outside observer who arrived in Quebec would probably be led to think that the employer is in the process of destroying working conditions. Let him cut salaries, attack the pension plan or take away weeks of vacation. This is generally the kind of employer offensive that generates this level of outrage.

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Improve, nothing else

However, in reality, nothing of the sort happens. The government is not taking anything away from employees. All, all the discussion is about improving their conditions. No one in Quebec is currently threatening to affect the benefits of state workers, even leave or pension plans which appear a little unusual by today’s standards.

It may be found that the proposed improvements are insufficient. There is concern that wage increases will not completely cover inflation, threatening purchasing power. It’s legitimate to ask for more. But it must be recognized that union members are fighting for improvements and are not defending themselves against attack, despite their acrimonious language.

I am making a historical parallel. The last wave of strikes of this magnitude in the public sector dates back to 1983. The PQ government had just cut public sector salaries by 20% for one quarter. Anger that is easy to explain.

Photo Agence QMI, Joël Lemay

Understanding anger

So how can we understand the anger expressed these days in the streets? We must necessarily take note of a rather worrying sickness. We must hear the expression of great fatigue. The last few years have been very hard in hospitals. The staff are out of breath and feel abandoned.

Nothing is going well in the schools anymore. Unmanageable classes, violence, lack of support, teachers have it all.

We can lay the foundations for certain improvements, but it is impossible to reverse such a situation in a single negotiation. Managers on the ground, like ministers, will have to worry about the well-being of their employees for years to come. Priority!

For the rest, we feel that the horns have convinced many union members that with popular support, they will obtain everything they ask for. Union leaders will have to remind them of the basis of negotiation: compromise.

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