Union heads say they’re nonetheless ready to strike after rejecting Quebec’s most up-to-date contract supply.
Three Quebec public sector union federations representing round 430,000 staff have joined collectively in a typical entrance throughout labour negotiations. Their members voted in favour of a one-day strike on Nov. 6, which may result in extra motion later.
Sonia LeBel, the chair of Quebec’s Treasury Board, mentioned in a information launch earlier within the day that the federal government is providing wage will increase of 14.8 per cent over 5 years.
She says she hopes to achieve a deal earlier than the tip of the 12 months, however the unions’ response suggests they will not except the federal government is ready to supply extra.
Francois Enault, first vice-president of the Confederation des syndicats nationaux, says the supply is 11 per cent decrease than what the province supplied the Surete du Quebec — a proposal which was finally rejected.
It is also decrease than the 30 per cent enhance members of the province’s legislature voted to grant themselves earlier this 12 months.
WHAT DID QUEBEC OFFER?
That 14.8 per cent enhance is cut up into base wage will increase, bonuses and incentives.
LeBel supplied a base wage enhance of 10.3 per cent, up from the province’s earlier supply of 9 per cent.
A further three per cent was additionally supplied “to reply to work group challenges.” The federal government says that further leeway may incentivize hiring in secondary faculty and evening-shift protection in health-care centres, for instance.
The federal government additionally supplied a lump sum of $1,000 for all staff inside the first 12 months of the brand new collective settlement, akin to a 1.5 per cent wage bump. New hires and staff incomes lower than $52,000 yearly would additionally get a one per cent bonus.
FILE: Sonia Lebel is Quebec’s Treasury Board president. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
‘RESPONSIBILITY’ FOR EACH TAX DOLLAR: LEBEL
In her information launch, Lebel referred to as the proposal “important.” Earlier within the week, she and the premier had spoken publicly about elevating their supply on Sunday, and union leaders had responded by way of the media with cautious optimism.
“We should not overlook that this negotiation should result in positive aspects for each side,” wrote LeBel on Sunday within the information launch, which was printed in French.
“Sure, we have to pay public staff higher, however I even have the accountability to make sure every greenback from taxpayers’ pockets is maximized.”
— Revealed with reporting from The Canadian Press
