(Saguenay) Prime Minister François Legault is concerned about the possible outbreak of strikes in the health and education sectors from the end of the month.
Posted at 2:22pm, updated at 2:53pm.
The government is “unable” to meet the wage demands of the unions, which would have to forego “the blue Labatt for everyone” and the same increase for all professional groups, he warned on Friday.
At the end of his group meeting to prepare for the return of the National Assembly on September 12, the Prime Minister indicated that negotiations on the renewal of the collective agreements of 600,000 civil servants will be a hot topic this autumn.
He said he feared intensifying union pressure and regretted “strike threats” from union leaders, whom he did not name.
I still have concerns about the disruptions announced by some unions who will have the right to strike at the end of the month.
Prime Minister Francois Legault
He wants the negotiations to be concluded “as quickly as possible,” “in a harmonious manner, without compromising services to the population.”
The Prime Minister argued that his salary offer allows him to meet the inflation forecast for the next five years, namely 11.5%.
Quebec has on the table salary increases of 9% in five years, a flat rate of $1,000 and bonuses of 2.5% for certain categories of workers.
The union united front (FTQ, CSN, CSQ and APTS) is calling for around 20% in three years.
“You have to be reasonable at a certain moment,” he said, saying that FIQ is asking him for a 24% pay rise. “We don’t have that ability to pay. »
François Legault did not say his offer was final. However, he pointed out that the government does not have the resources to respond to union demands. However, he recalled that the state of Quebec has “a deficit” and that “there is no question of increasing taxes for Quebecers.”
“Another point (salary increase) is 600 million per year. You should tell me where to get it from,” he insisted. “Union leaders need to remember that we are working with Quebecers’ money, which is hard-earned by taxpayers. »
For François Legault, “the biggest challenge” is to increase the number of nurses working full-time, in the evenings or on weekends. Certain categories of workers need to be paid more than others to fill the shortage, such as psychologists. “It’s not easy for unions” to accept these differentiated increases, he stressed.
“Unions like the FIQ want the blue lab for everyone, wall to wall, the same raise. “But on Wednesday in the middle of the day we sometimes have too many nursing staff in certain places,” he said, justifying the granting of special bonuses for unfavorable shifts.
“Difficult construction site”
Quebec will launch a seduction drive to massively recruit construction workers, an overheated sector where labor shortages are causing delivery delays.
In sight: public infrastructure projects such as public transport, schools and hospitals, the construction of new housing, but also the development of Hydro-Québec at a time when Quebec’s energy needs are “immense”.
“There is also the private sector, all the announcements that we have made and the others that are coming for battery factories or others that will hire construction workers,” Mr. Legault argued. “The idea is […] to be able to build more and build faster.”
In particular, the government plans to offer accelerated training and pay students while they study, similar to what was done for nurses during the pandemic. This is done with the approval of the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ).
“Anyone who is thinking about a career choice or reorientation, get ready! We will arrive this winter with a strong project to convince people to come to us and undertake construction training. “These are well-paid jobs and there will be lots and lots of work,” the Prime Minister promised.
Bill 40: Quebec appeals
François Legault confirmed that the government will appeal the Quebec Supreme Court ruling that ruled in favor of English-speaking school authorities in their legal challenge to Law 40 on the creation of school service centers. The court ruled last August that abolishing school boards and replacing them with school service centers would violate the rights of anglophones.
The $125 bonus has been eliminated
The $125 daily bonus paid to MPs who are required to sit on committees outside the parliamentary calendar will be abolished, Mr Legault said. After initially defending it, Mr Legault joined the opposition calling for the bonus to be canceled following the publication of a text in Le Devoir on Thursday. The prime minister asked the head of government on Friday to submit a resolution to the bureau of the National Assembly.
Hydropower: Greater demand
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Quebec will ultimately need more than 100 additional terawatt-hours of energy (the equivalent of half a Hydro-Québec). François Legault indicated that the new head of the state-owned company, Michael Sabia, would carry out an “update” of the forecasts presented by his predecessor. “That’s even more than Sophie Brochu estimated,” confirmed Mr. Legault, who himself had spoken of up to 150 Twh. He reiterated his intention to build new dams and accelerate wind energy development. In addition, the government is still considering changing the Hydro-Québec residential fees. “Can we lower the tariffs at night to plug in our car or dishwasher? That’s one of the things we’ll be looking at,” he said.