2023-10-29 12:09:23
(Quebec) The new offer from the Legault government to state employees is derisory and insulting, respond the unions who are staying the course on the strike days announced for next week.
Published at 8:09 a.m. Updated at 12:15 p.m.
The Legault government is putting on the table salary increases of 10.3% in five years for the 600,000 state employees, in addition to bonuses representing 3% for certain categories of workers and a lump sum for all of $1,000 the first year.
Quebec thus says that its overall proposal increases from 13% to 14.8% in five years compared to its first offer. He presented his new offer to the unions on Sunday morning.
Its initial proposal, tabled in December 2022, provided for salary increases of 9% in five years, bonuses representing 2.5% for certain categories of workers and the payment of a lump sum of $1,000 in the first year (which represents a cost equivalent to 1.5% of the payroll).
With the new offer, recurring increases for all employees therefore increase from 9% to 10.3%.
The share reserved for “differentiated offers”, for certain categories of workers, increases from 2.5% to 3%.
The flat rate amount for everyone remains the same.
The new offer is “insignificant,” said the president of the FTQ, Magali Picard. “We had hope”, but the government “continues this same regime, this same tone of arrogance and insult” towards its employees.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
The president of the FTQ Magali Picard commented on Quebec’s offer in the company of the president of the APTS Robert Comeau (right), the first vice-president of the CSN François Enault (2nd right) and president of the CSQ Éric Gingras (left), during a press conference in Quebec, Sunday morning.
For its part, the common union front — which brings together the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS — is demanding recurring salary increases representing around 20% in three years. His request was submitted a year ago.
COMMON FRONT DEMANDS
Consumer Price Index (CPI) +2% increase for 2023
CPI +3% for 2024
CPI +4% for 2025
Note: the union demands represent total salary increases of approximately 21% if we take into account the CPI recorded in 2022 and the forecasts included in the Legault government budget for 2023 and 2024.
Quebec considers that it is the turn of the unions to go a long way and review its request.
The common union front, which brings together the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS, announced last week that its 420,000 members will be on strike on November 6.
The mandate adopted by the common front provides for the ultimate recourse to an unlimited general strike, which must be preceded by isolated or grouped days of walkouts.
The 80,000 nurses and other workers of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) will walk off the job on November 8 and 9.
The Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE) will soon set the date on which its 65,000 teachers will be on strike.
In the health sector, such as hospitals and CHSLDs, unions are required to ensure the maintenance of essential services, which is not the case in schools.
Furthermore, Sonia LeBel is extending only part of the bonuses which were to end on March 31. These bonuses, which total around $600 million per year, are mainly intended for health care workers. The part of the premiums which is maintained represents approximately 100 of the 600 million in question. The bonuses that resulted from the health emergency will end. The FIQ condemned Quebec’s decision, estimating that many workers, including nurses, will suffer a 3.5% salary cut.
The president of the Treasury Board had asked the unions to narrow down their demands at the negotiating tables so that she agrees to keep the bonuses in place even if the new employment contracts are still not signed. She says she herself pruned the employers’ requests.
Quebec wants to settle negotiations and renew collective agreements before the holidays. They expired on March 31.
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