Paramedics staged a coup on Friday morning by blocking the distribution centers of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) in Montreal and Quebec.
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The demonstration aimed to denounce the absence of a government offer likely to respond to workers in the pre-hospital sector, without collective agreements for almost two years.
Marc Vallières / QMI Agency
The unions affiliated with the CSN are demanding a salary adjustment to ensure paramedics the same competitive treatment compared to that in force in other public security services or in hospital emergencies.
Negotiations are stymied by outdated work schedules which force paramedics to remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to emergencies.
“Now that agreements have been concluded in the entire public sector, it is inconceivable that the government does not put more energy into settling with us who are still in negotiations with the State”, indicated Claude Lamarche, interim president of the Prehospital union -CSN.
Marc Vallières / QMI Agency
“Our demands go in the direction of improving services to the population and ambulance coverage in all regions of Quebec,” explained Mr. Lamarche.
The SAQ specifies
The SAQ’s warehouses are therefore blocked by demonstrators, which prompted the Crown corporation to react to notify its customers that the demonstrators are not its employees.
Marc Vallières / QMI Agency
“These demonstrations unfortunately disrupt our activities, but we are confident that the consequences on our operations will be minor,” said the SAQ in a press release.
“We are in contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of our employees and our properties,” she added.