Quebec’s Common Front public sector union vote in favor of strike | CityNews Montreal

MONTREAL – A 95 per cent majority of Quebec’s Common Front public sector union members have voted in favor of a strike action.

The Common Front represents 420,000 workers in healthcare, social services and education, members of CSN, CSQ, APTS and FTQ unions.

The mandate that has been granted ultimately calls for an indefinite strike, but it would be preceded by strike “sequences”, most likely isolated or grouped strike days.

“This is historic. We said from the start that the movement was historic – the largest common front, the most numerous, with a mandate that hasn’t been asked for in 40 years. What the members have come to tell us is just two things: they’re fed up, they’re disgusted, and they want to improve their working conditions,” exclaimed Éric Gingras, President of the  Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), which mainly represents the education community.

“I think that if the Treasury Board minister needed another signal from our side, from his workers, well they’ve got it there now. At 95 per cent, listen, it’s crazy! It’s unprecedented,” exclaimed FTQ President Magali Picard.

“Very happy! We could already feel that the members were behind us at this negotiation. They were asking about the negotiations; they were outraged. But, to see it, with such a high percentage, well it still gives us a solid boost in the support our members give us, because we’re carrying their voice in these negotiations. It gives us a good balance of power at the bargaining table,” commented Robert Comeau, President of the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS).

“A strike mandate is a pressure tactic in itself, and at 95 per cent, I hope the government will take into consideration the strength of the mandate obtained from union members,” pointed out CSN vice-president François Énault.

He emphasized the high participation rates at union meetings. “For my organization, the CSN, it varies from sector to sector, but it’s definitely the best participation rates since the last two rounds of negotiations”. The FTQ also refers to participation rates “much higher than in the past”.

When will we see the first day of strike action, if it comes to that? “With all the delays we have, I’d say it’s clear that it should be more in November,” said Énault.

If there is a strike, essential services will be provided in health and social services, but not in education.

Negotiations

Despite the strike vote, negotiations are continuing with the Treasury Board  and the ministries concerned. But Comeau says that for months, “all we’ve been doing is talking about government priorities” without addressing the unions’ priorities.

Quebec is offering 9 per cent increases over five years, plus a lump sum of $1,000 for the first year. A sum equivalent to 2.5 per cent reserved for “government priorities” is added to this, making the offer worth 13 per cent over five years.

The Common Front, on the other hand, is asking for a three-year contract, i.e. $100 per week or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 2 per cent for the first year – whichever is more advantageous for workers – then the CPI plus 3 per cent for the second year and the CPI plus 4 per cent for the third year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on October 17, 2023.