Tens of thousands of Quebec public sector workers from across the province gathered in Montreal on Saturday to denounce the CAQ government’s overtures in union negotiations. “Wake up, our people are angry,” warns the Common Front for Quebec.
Published at 10:09 am. Updated at 1:29 p.m
“We will replace teachers, but for $16 an hour! », protests Claudine Girard, a daycare teacher from Saint-Lazare in Lac-Saint-Jean. Standing in the middle of a sea of green and turquoise – the color of the Common Front – gathered at the foot of Mount Royal, Ms Girard said she was prepared to go to the extent of an indefinite general strike to enforce her position. “We do specialized work but get paid like nothing,” she adds. We need good conditions! »
Workers from Lac-Saint-Jean like Claudine Girard came in large numbers, she says. “We filled an entire plane! “You’re not the only ones. Dozens of school buses parked on Avenue du Parc in Montreal bear witness to the mobilization.
Earlier, Magali Picard, president of the Quebec Federation of Workers (FTQ), stressed at a press conference that she had never seen such enthusiasm among members.
Since Monday there have been votes in the province for strikes that could lead to an indefinite general strike and these will last until October 13, explained François Énault, first vice-president of the CSN.
We haven’t had such a turnout for a long time and so far we have 93% of the vote for the strike. Our members are ready, even if we don’t hope to get that far.
François Énault, first vice-president of the CSN
The Common Front brings together 420,000 workers from the CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS unions in the education, health and social services and higher education sectors.
“It won’t go through”
Employees are demanding concrete improvements to their working conditions, wage equalization and protection against inflation. “Government is offering just 9% pay rise over five years,” the Common Front wrote ahead of the event. What is on the table is not even a serious basis for negotiations. »
The government’s offer is all the worse considering that the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) approved a 30% pay increase for MPs at the beginning of the year. Or again, given the offer of a 21% increase proposed to the employees of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), which was rejected by the police.
“It won’t go through!” says François Énault at a press conference. His message to the Quebec government: “Wake up, because our people are angry. »
An opportunity to discuss with the population
Union leaders say Saturday’s demonstration sets the tone for a “hot autumn” for public sector negotiations. They also invite the population to take the opportunity to discuss with the workers to understand the demands.
“If we go to an indefinite strike, I think the population will be behind us,” also assured Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ. He recalled that public sector workers had been showered with thanks during the pandemic, but members were now “full of it”.
To add to the frustration, the CAQ government also recently announced that it is scrapping certain bonuses that have been extended since the start of the pandemic. “Quebec civil servants are the lowest paid in all of Canada,” complained Magali Picard, recalling that 78% of Common Front members are also women.
Better conditions, better wages
Maude Berthe-Thérien, Ibtissam Yahiaoui El Mohi and Kériane Malette, three nurses from Laval, are also there to make their voices heard. “We are here because of our continued mediocre working conditions,” explains Ms. Berthe-Thérien. “And here we want to cut our bonuses,” adds Ms. Malette. “There is still forced labor, people are leaving, we are tired,” she summarizes.
“We also want to be paid well,” adds Ms. Yahiaoui El Mohi.
Negotiations that drag on
Negotiations between the Quebec government and the Common Front have been ongoing for several months. The Common Front submitted its demands in autumn 2022; Quebec submitted its bids in December.
Quebec is offering public employees salary increases of 9% over five years, as well as a lump sum of $1,000 in the first year. To this he adds an amount of 2.5% reserved for “government priorities”, meaning that his offer represents a value of 13% over five years.
The Joint Front is instead calling for a three-year contract with $100 per week for the first year or the consumer price index plus 2% – whichever formula would be most beneficial to workers – then the consumer price index plus 3% in the second year, and so on CPI up 4% in year three.
The march ends in the Quartier des spectacles.
With the Canadian Press