2023-11-06 05:00:00
The Legault government and a major union common front say they still hope to reach an agreement “quickly”, while a massive walkout took place this morning, involving 420,000 state employees across the province.
• Read also: Common Front strike on November 6: what to expect?
• Read also: Teachers in Montreal, Quebec and Gatineau on indefinite general strike starting November 23
• Read also: November 6 strike: which services will really be affected?
• Read also: “Derisory” offer from the Treasury Board: the strike seems inevitable for the Common Front and the FIQ
“We think it is still possible to have a settlement before the holidays,” summarizes François Enault, first vice-president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN). It’s been 50 years since the first common front. We always got along. We are condemned to get along.”
“We are making every effort to settle as quickly as possible,” indicates the office of the President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, in a statement sent to the Journal.
François Enault, first vice-president of the Confederation of National Unions (CSN), in April 2022.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
However, negotiations are stagnating between Quebec and the Common Front, which brings together the CSQ, the FTQ, the APTS and the CSN.
A strike therefore leads to a suspension of classes in primary and secondary schools in the public system on Monday morning. The same goes for CEGEPs.
However, the hours and services available vary depending on the sector. (Please see the tables below)
- Listen to the interview with Monique Jérôme-Forget, who simultaneously served as president of the Treasury Board and Minister of Finance under the government of Jean Charest on Alexandre Dubé’s show via QUB radio :
The health network – CLSC, hospitals, CHSLDs – will stop working all day. Essential services will still be offered.
Note that government organizations such as the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec or Revenu Québec are not affected by this union action.
The president of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, in June 2020.
Photo d’archives
One of the biggest
According to François Enault, the 420,000 workers involved constitute one of the largest numbers of strikers in recent decades for the Common Front. A strong signal for Quebec, he believes.
“It’s not bad in the bigger ones [volumes], definitely, underlines Mr. Enault. I think the government should stop […] to throw the ball to others and take into consideration that, perhaps, part of the problem is with him.
Very recently, a salary increase of 10.3% over five years in addition to a 3% bonus for certain job categories was presented to the Common Front and the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ). The latter described the offer as “derisory”.
“If the unions are not satisfied, they must make us a constructive counter-offer, in due form,” insists the Treasury Board office.
The fact that 95% of union members voted in favor of a strike, which might lead to an unlimited general strike, might influence the continuation of the 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 puts on the union organizations to deliver the goods,” he argues.
For better services
Aware of the consequences on the lifestyle of the population, François Enault believes that these demonstrations are necessary.
“It’s for the working conditions of the members we represent, but it’s also to keep people [en poste]be attractive in the network and be able to maintain quality public services,” he maintains.
Common Front demonstration at Place des Festivals, September 23, 2023, to demand better working conditions from the Legault government.
Archive photo, AGENCE QMI
“Yes, state employees deserve good working conditions, but this negotiation cannot be one-way: it is our responsibility as government to ensure we obtain better services,” retorts Sonia’s office Lebel.
Note that on November 8 and 9, the FIQ, which represents 80,000 members, will also be on strike, while the 65,000 members of the Autonomous Teaching Federation (FAE) will launch an indefinite general strike on November 23.
November 6 strike: which services will really be affected?
Thousands of public sector workers in education and health represented by the Common Front will exercise their strike mandate during a massive mobilization on Monday, November 6. Schools, health, state corporations, which services will really be affected? Overview.
Overview of the QMI Agency
SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER QUEBEC REGION
- Charlevoix school service center: daycare services will be closed in the morning and will resume their usual schedule for registered students at lunchtime and in the evening. Preschool and primary school will resume following dinner time, 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 training students will resume classes at 10:40 a.m.
- Capital School Service Center: face-to-face classes and daycare services will be closed in the morning.
- Portneuf school service center: All unionized staff at the Portneuf School Service Center will exercise their right to strike until 10:30 a.m.
- No information has been publicly transmitted for the following school boards: Central Quebec School Board, Découvreurs School Service Center, Premières-Seigneuries School Service Center et Rives-du-Saguenay school service center.
SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER MONTREAL REGION
- Pointe-de-l’Île school service center: all classes and daycare and lunch services will be closed in the morning. Classes will resume in the followingnoon. School transportation and daycare will only be offered at the end of classes.
- Montreal School Service Center: Classes, school transportation and daycare will only be offered in the followingnoon. Adult training will resume at 11 a.m.
- Marguerite-Bourgeoys school service center: Schools will welcome students for regular followingnoon classes.
- Laval school service center: Classes and daycare services are suspended only for the morning. School transportation will not be offered in the morning.
- Marie-Victorin school service center: Classes and school transportation are suspended for the entire morning, while students are expected during the lunch period. Regarding specialized classes and vocational training centers, students will be able to return from 10:45 a.m.
- Patriotes School Service Center: no school transportation or childcare will be offered for the arrival of students in the morning. Classes are scheduled to resume at 11 a.m.
- The English school boards – i.e. the English Montreal School Board, Lester B. Pearson School Board, Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board et Riverside School Board have no strike notice posted.
CEGEPS
The strike will take place from midnight to noon for CEGEP classes. The return to class will take place gradually according to each establishment.
SAVED SERVICES
- SQDC
- SAQ
- Loto-Québec
- Quebec Automobile Insurance Society (SAAQ)
- Quebec Ferry Company (STQ)
- Came back to Quebec
- Society of Outdoor Establishments of Quebec (SÉPAQ)
- Universities
- Early childhood centers (CPE)
HEALTH SERVICES
For health, the strike will take place all day, but it will have limited effect due to the law on essential services.
Thus, staff will work as usual to provide front-line care, including in emergency rooms and intensive care units across the province.
Other care units, however, will see their schedules somewhat disrupted, according to scales established by the Administrative Labor Tribunal (TAT).
On average, members of different unions will strike for 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on their employment sectors.
A second strike sequence will be held from November 21 to 23, announced François Enault of the CSN.
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