(Quebec) The Legault government plans salary increases of 10.3% in five years for the 600,000 public employees, in addition to bonuses of 3% for certain categories of workers and a flat rate of $1,000 in the first year.
Published at 8:09 am. Updated at 11:30 a.m
Quebec says its total supply has increased from 13% to 14.8% compared to its first offer in five years. He presented his new offer to unions on Sunday morning, while strike days were announced for next week.
His original proposal, presented in December 2022, called for salary increases of 9% in five years, bonuses of 2.5% for certain categories of workers and the payment of a lump sum of $1,000 in the first year (which costs equivalent to 1.5%). % of total wages).
With the new offer, the recurring increases for all employees will increase from 9% to 10.3%.
The share reserved for “differentiated offers” for certain categories of workers increases from 2.5% to 3%.
The flat rate remains the same for everyone.
The joint trade union front, for its part, is demanding recurring salary increases of around 20% in three years. His application was submitted a year ago.
COMMON FRONT REQUIREMENTS
Consumer Price Index (CPI) +2% increase for 2023
CPI +3% for 2024
CPI +4% for 2025
Note: The union’s demands represent a total salary increase of approximately 21% if we take into account the CPI recorded in 2022 and the forecasts contained in the Legault government budget for 2023 and 2024.
Quebec believes it is up to the unions to go the long way and consider its request.
The joint trade union front, which brings together CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS, announced last week that its 420,000 members would go on strike on November 6th.
The mandate adopted by the Common Front provides for an indefinite general strike as a last resort, which must be preceded by individual or group strike days.
The 80,000 nurses and other workers of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) will walk off their jobs on November 8th and 9th.
The Autonomous Education Association (FAE) will soon set the date on which its 65,000 teachers will go on strike.
In the healthcare sector, such as hospitals and CHSLDs, unions are obliged to ensure the maintenance of essential services, which is not the case in schools.
In addition, Sonia LeBel is only extending part of the bonuses that were supposed to end on March 31st. These premiums, which amount to about $600 million per year, are primarily intended for health care workers. The retained part of the premiums corresponds to approximately 100 of the 600 million in question. The bonuses that resulted from the health emergency are no longer applicable.
The president of the Treasury Board had asked the unions to limit their demands at the negotiating table so that she would agree to maintain the bonuses even if the new labor contracts have not yet been signed. She says she herself has curtailed employers’ applications.
Quebec wants to conclude negotiations and renew collective agreements before the holidays. They expired on March 31st.