It will lead to school closures and service disruptions in hospitals in the second most populous province in Canada
As may as 600,000 public workers are set to go on strike in Quebec to demand higher pay, according to an article by Bloomberg.
An alliance of unions that represented 420,000 public sector workers in education, health care, and social services, walked off their job on Friday which was the start of the planned strike set to last for seven days.
This has led to school closures as well as service disruptions in hospitals in Quebec. If no agreement is reached, it will be considered the longest walkout of provincial government workers in Quebec in 50 years.
Other unions that represent nurses and professionals will also be undertaking labour actions, meaning that 10% out of the 4.8 million people that makes up Quebec’s labour force will be on strike at the same time.
A continued call for a better pay raise deal
Talks between the government and the Front Commun, the union alliance, have seen no progress when it comes to key elements for months, with workers not having a contract since March 31.
Premier Francois Legault’s government recently increased its offered pay raise to 12.7% over five years - from 10.3% with a bonus of $1,000 and more incentive payments for sectors with more difficult working conditions. However, this proposal was rejected by the Front Commun.
“This is very far from what we are asking,” said Magali Picard, a union leader with the Federation des Travailleurs du Quebec.
The unions stated that they wanted a 23% pay increase over three years so that their salaries will be more competitive, and the purchasing power lost to surging inflation would be restored. The government estimated that each percentage point increase to the union salaries cost nearly $600 million.
“The room is quite limited for the government to continue improving its offer,” said Philippe Gougeon, an economist at the consulting firm AppEco and former chief of staff of the finance minister of Quebec.
Gougeon explained that further additions to salaries will require the government to borrow more, which will push out the goal of balancing the budget to beyond 2028.
“It is already difficult to respect the growth in spending, especially since the government’s economic forecasts are generous compared to the private sector,” he said.
“I think we could agree on salary increases,” said Legault, further stating that unions should help make the labour force more flexible by giving up some of their power to approve things such as work schedules and overtime.
“It’s not normal that our network is managed by unions rather than managers,” he added.
The Coalition Avenir Quebec, Legault’s political party, has been plummeting in the polls following voters’ frustrating about swelling classroom sizes and growing hospital wait times.
The government has also been caught in the middle of controversy with a 30% pay raise for members of the provincial legislature and a $5 million grant to the Los Angeles Kings hockey club to have them play two pre-season games in Quebec next year.
