The Legault government and a major joint union front say they still hope to reach an agreement “quickly” as the massive strike by 420,000 public workers across the province begins on Monday.
• Also read: November 6 Common Front Strike: What to Expect?
• Also read: Teachers in Montreal, Quebec and Gatineau are on indefinite general strike starting November 23rd
• Also read: Strike on November 6th: Which services will really be affected?
• Also read: “Scornful” offer from the Ministry of Finance: The strike seems inevitable for the Common Front and the FIQ
“We think it is still possible to reach an agreement before the holidays,” concludes François Enault, first vice-president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN). 50 years have passed since the first common front. We always got along. We’re doomed to get along.”
“We are making every effort to resolve the matter as quickly as possible,” Treasury President Sonia LeBel’s office said in a statement to the Journal.
François Enault, first vice-president of the Confederation of National Unions (CSN), in April 2022. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
However, negotiations between Quebec and the Common Front, which brings together CSQ, FTQ, APTS and CSN, are stagnating.
A strike will therefore lead to a halt to teaching at primary and secondary schools in the public system on Monday morning. The same applies to CEGEPs.
However, available hours and services vary by industry. (Please see the tables below)
The healthcare network – CLSC, hospitals, CHSLDs – will stop functioning throughout the day. Essential services will continue to be offered.
Note that government organizations such as Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec or Revenu Québec are not affected by this union action.
Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel in June 2020. Archive photo
One of the biggest
According to François Enault, the 420,000 workers involved represent one of the largest strike forces of the Common Front in recent decades. A strong signal for Quebec, he believes.
“It’s not bad in the bigger ones [volumes]“Absolutely,” emphasizes Mr. Enault. I think the government should stop […] to throw the ball to others and consider that perhaps part of the problem lies with himself.
Recently, a salary increase of 10.3% over five years and a bonus of 3% for certain professional groups were presented to the Common Front and the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ). The latter described the offer as “ridiculous”.
“If the unions are not satisfied, they must make us a constructive counteroffer in the correct form,” emphasizes the Treasury Department’s office.
Negotiation/4. Deposit: We offer a total increase of almost 15%. All temporary premiums, except those related to the health emergency, are extended. The share reserved for differentiated offers increases to 3%. We hope for constructive feedback from the unions to move forward. #polqc
— Sonia LeBel (@slebel19) October 29, 2023
The fact that 95% of union members voted in favor of a strike, which could lead to an indefinite general strike, could influence the continuation of negotiations, observes Yanick Noiseux, professor in the sociology department at the University of Montreal.
“It obviously puts pressure on the government, but it [en] also requires union organizations to deliver the goods,” he argues.
For better services
François Enault is aware of the consequences for the population’s way of life and considers these demonstrations necessary.
“It’s about the working conditions of the members we represent, but also about retaining people.” [en poste]to be attractive in the network and to be able to maintain high quality public services,” he emphasizes.
Demonstration of the Common Front at Place des Festivals, September 23, 2023, to demand better working conditions from the Legault government. Archive photo, AGENCE QMI
“Yes, public servants deserve good working conditions, but this negotiation cannot be one-sided: it is our responsibility as a government to ensure that we receive better services,” responds Sonia’s office Lebel.
Note that on November 8th and 9th, the FIQ, representing 80,000 members, will also go on strike, while the 65,000 members of the Autonomous Teaching Federation (FAE) will launch an indefinite general strike on November 23rd.
Strike on November 6th: Which services will really be affected?
Thousands of public sector workers in education and healthcare, represented by the Common Front, will exercise their strike mandate as part of a mass mobilization on Monday, November 6th. Schools, healthcare, state-owned enterprises – which services will really be affected? Overview.
QMI Agency Overview
SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER QUEBEC REGION
- Charlevoix School Service Center: The daycare centers will remain closed in the morning and will resume normal operations for registered students at lunchtime and evening. Preschool and elementary school will resume after dinner, secondary school students will resume between 10:50 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. depending on the school, and adult general education and vocational education students will resume classes at 10:40 a.m.
- Capital School Service Center: In-person classes and daycare centers remain closed in the morning.
- Portneuf school service center: All unionized Portneuf School Service Center employees will exercise their right to strike until 10:30 a.m.
- No information has been publicly released for the following school boards: Central Quebec School Board, Découvreurs School Service Center, Premières-Seigneuries School Service Center And Rives-du-Saguenay School Service Center.
SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER MONTREAL REGION
- School Service Center Pointe-de-l’Île: All courses, daycare centers and lunch options remain closed in the morning. Classes resume in the afternoon. School transport and childcare are only offered at the end of class.
- Montreal School Service Center: Classes, school transport and childcare are only offered in the afternoons. Adult training resumes at 11 a.m.
- Marguerite Bourgeoys School Service Center: Schools will welcome students for regular afternoon classes.
- Laval School Service Center: Classes and care in the daycare center are only suspended in the mornings. There is no school transport available in the morning.
- Marie Victorin School Service Center: Classes and school transport are suspended for the entire morning, while students are expected during lunch break. For specialist classes and vocational training centers, return is possible from 10:45 a.m.
- Patriotes School Service Center: There will be no school transportation or childcare available for students arriving in the morning. Classes are scheduled to resume at 11 a.m.
- The English school authorities – that is, them English Montreal School Board, Lester B. Pearson School Board, Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board And Riverside School Board did not post strike notice.
CEGEPS
The strike will take place from midnight to noon for CEGEP courses. The return to class will take place gradually depending on the institution.
Saved Services
- SQDC
- SAQ
- Loto Quebec
- Quebec Automobile Insurance Society (SAAQ)
- Quebec Ferry Company (STQ)
- Came back to Quebec
- Society of Outdoor Facilities of Quebec (SÉPAQ)
- Universities
- Early childhood education centers (CPE)
HEALTH SERVICES
For health reasons, the strike will last all day but will have limited impact due to the Essential Services Act.
Therefore, frontline staff will continue to work as usual, including in emergency rooms and intensive care units across the province.
However, other care facilities will face somewhat disrupted schedules under tariffs set by the Administrative Labor Tribunal (TAT).
On average, members of various unions go on strike for 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the sector of employment.
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