Public sector strike: Quebec government calls on unions to submit counter-offer
Quebec’s treasury board president implored unions on Sunday to desk a counter-offer to the federal government’s final contract proposal as every week of deliberate, provincewide public sector strikes is ready to get underway.
Sonia LeBel printed a brief video on X, previously often called Twitter, saying the province’s final provide was a critical one and merited a counter-proposal, however the unions haven’t submitted a reply.
“There’s been no movement from the union, I have had no counter-offer, they’ve offered nothing in return,” LeBel mentioned. The province’s newest provide is price $8 billion and is the fourth tabled throughout negotiations.
The province is negotiating contracts with unions representing some 600,000 public sector staff. Teachers, nurses, well being care staff, junior faculty professors and different public sector staff might be on strike at numerous occasions through the coming week.
Unions rejected Quebec’s newest contract provide in late October for all staff — a ten.3-per-cent wage enhance over 5 years and a one-time fee of $1,000 to every employee, up barely from the 9 per cent over the identical time period supplied final December.
The authorities has mentioned the provide was critical and in step with inflation forecasts, however the unions have described the federal government’s provide as insulting.
Unions have beforehand sought a three-year contract with annual will increase tied to the inflation charge: two share factors above inflation within the first yr or $100 per week, whichever is extra helpful, adopted by three factors larger within the second yr and 4 factors larger within the third.
LeBel mentioned whereas nobody disagrees that salaries are necessary, she known as on unions to indicate flexibility, noting that pay will increase will not clear up different excellent points like overcrowded lecture rooms or obligatory extra time for nurses.
“We have the chance in this negotiation to improve working conditions and services to the population,” LeBel mentioned, including all sides should seize the chance.
The unions swung again on Sunday. The Federation interprofessionnelle de la sante du Quebec — which represents 80,000 nurses, licensed sensible nurses, respiratory therapists and different well being professionals — mentioned the province’s gives had been “contemptuous of health care professionals” and irresponsible for the protection of well being staff.
“It’s not the number of offers that matters, but what’s in them,” the FIQ union replied on social media forward of two strike days on Thursday and Friday.
Also this week, members of 4 main public sector unions representing a “common front” of some 420,000 staff might be off the job between Tuesday and Thursday. That group contains nearly all of elementary and highschool lecturers in addition to college assist workers and well being care staff like orderlies and technicians.
One of the unions in that foursome responded to LeBel’s newest remarks by saying completely different sectors have made proposals on the bargaining desk, including that is the place the federal government ought to focus its efforts.
“We said that if there was no agreement before the 21st (of November), we would be on strike. It is clear that there will be no settlement before then,” mentioned Francois Enault, vice-president of the CSN, one of many 4 widespread entrance unions. “What we are saying is that we are ready to negotiate, seven days a week, we want a settlement.”
“The only thing we agree on with the government is we want a settlement by the holidays,” he added.
Most colleges might be closed between Tuesday and Thursday whereas the FAE union, which represents 65,000 Quebec elementary and highschool lecturers and is negotiating individually, launches a vast basic strike on Nov. 23.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 19, 2023.
