Quebec Government Urges Unions to Present Alternative Proposal in Response to Public Sector Strike

Quebec’s treasury board president has urged unions on Nov. 19 to present a counter-proposal to the government’s last contract offer as a week of planned, provincewide, public sector strikes is set to begin. Sonia LeBel shared a brief video on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating the province’s last offer was significant and deserves a counter-proposal, but the unions have not responded.

“There’s been no indication of movement from the union, I have received no counter-offer, they’ve given nothing in return,” Ms. LeBel said. The province’s latest offer amounts to $8 billion and is the fourth offered during negotiations. The province is in contract negotiations with unions representing approximately 600,000 public sector workers. A range of public sector employees, including teachers, nurses, health care workers, junior college professors, will go on strike at various times during the coming week.

Unions had rejected Quebec’s latest contract offer in late October covering all employees—a 10.3 percent salary increase over five years, and a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker, up slightly from the nine percent over the same term offered last December. The government insists the offer was substantial and in line with inflation forecasts, but the unions have called the government’s offers insulting.

Unions had previously sought a three-year contract with annual increases linked to the inflation rate: two percentage points above inflation in the first year or $100 per week, whichever is more beneficial, followed by three points higher in the second year, and four points higher in the third.

Ms. LeBel mentioned that while no one disputes the importance of salaries, she urged unions to exhibit flexibility, noting that salary increases alone will not resolve other outstanding issues such as overcrowded classrooms or mandatory overtime for nurses. “We have the opportunity in this negotiation to enhance working conditions and services to the population,” Ms. LeBel said, emphasizing that all parties must seize the opportunity.

On Nov. 19, the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec—which represents 80,000 health care professionals—argued the province’s offers were “disrespectful of health care professionals” and were risky for the safety of health workers. The FIQ union responded via social media ahead of two strike days on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, stating that “It’s not the number of offers that matters, but what’s in them.”

Additionally, members of four major public sector unions representing a “common front” of approximately 420,000 workers will be on strike from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23. This group includes the majority of elementary and high school teachers, school support staff, and health care workers. One of the unions in that group responded to Ms. LeBel’s latest comments, saying that different sectors have made proposals at the bargaining table, and that’s where the government should direct its efforts.

“We said that if there was no agreement before the 21st (of November), we would be on strike. It is clear that there will be no settlement before then,” said François Enault, vice-president of the CSN, one of the four common front unions. “What we are saying is that we are ready to negotiate, seven days a week, we want a settlement.”

“The only thing we agree on with the government is we want a settlement by the holidays,” he added. Most schools will be closed between Nov. 21 and Nov. 23 while the FAE union, which represents 65,000 Quebec elementary and high school teachers and is negotiating separately, launches an unlimited general strike on Nov. 23.