You’re useless you’re a useless incompetent gang I’m the one paying your salary you earn too much too late I picked up your shit are examples of daily insults received by the few 7,000 city employees, like for example border guards, building inspectors, snowplows and site workers.
“It’s not looking good, it’s about time that changed, and today our words will be followed by deeds,” says the mayor.
In order to raise citizens’ awareness of tolerance and what threatens employees, the city launches a video that is published on social networks.
In addition, there will be training for employees to better deal with certain difficult situations and a committee will be set up to collect statements deemed unacceptable.
In light of the comments, we will take the necessary action, ranging from a variety of possible actions to filing a report with the police, if necessary, the mayor warns.
In cases where it will not be possible to find the defaulting citizen, the city says it has tools at its disposal, including surveillance cameras.
City workers in Quebec can repair up to 1,000 potholes a day.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Colin Côté-Paulette
The worst since the pandemic
City officials told the city that the situation has worsened since the pandemic.
This is not surprising, said Marie-Josée Asselin, vice-president of the city’s executive committee.
Teleworking puts employees much more in the public eye. In the past, when there was work to be done on her street, people would have sat at her desk, she says.
No one likes being stuck in traffic, but that’s not the fault of our employees, the mayor continues.
unions satisfied
The unions are satisfied with the measures taken by the city.
It was time ! Congratulations to the city in this file for listening to us, starts Luc Boissonneault, Vice President of the Syndicat des cols bleus de la Ville de Québec.
With 94 departures in the past year, it is clear in his opinion that the working atmosphere should not be neglected.
Just last month, he recounted an assault between a citizen and one of his colleagues. “Often our members get hit for blocking the road while digging to restore water supplies to citizens,” he says.
On the employee side, the reaction is the same. I think that today everyone is sensitive to this message. […] All employees who have direct contact with citizens would have a comment every day, says Réal Pleau, president of the Quebec City Municipal Workers’ Union.
The Labeaume administration was flayed
The trade unions take advantage of this to scratch the previous government.
“There is a change in tone because we didn’t get any thanks to the previous government. »
– A quote from Luc Boissonneault, Vice President of the Quebec City Blue Collar Union
“The discourse is completely different, the dynamic has changed. He respects the employees. People are quietly regaining their pride in working for the city of Quebec. »
– A quote from Réal Pleau, President of the City of Quebec Municipal Employees Union.
However, the mayor insists that citizens have the right to be dissatisfied. The 311 service is one of the tools at your disposal to file a complaint.
With information from Louise Boisvert.