Quebec to appoint conciliator as labour unions prepare for major strikes this week 

Quebec says it will appoint a conciliator to help bridge the gap in stalled contract negotiations with public sector unions ahead of major strikes this week.

The conciliator’s recommendations, however, won’t be binding.

A labour group representing about 420,000 public sector workers in education, health, and social services asked for a conciliator to help talks advance.

The group, which calls itself the “common front” will hold a three-day strike starting Tuesday.

The mediator won’t be able to pronounce themselves on salary and pension plan – due to conditions set by Quebec’s treasury board.

Conditions the FTQ said it was opposed to a press conference on Monday morning.

“Unfortunately we just received the answer from the employer this morning. They’re telling us they agreed but they won’t agree to talk about salaries and pension plan. I’m sorry but this is what we want to discuss and this is what we need to discuss. We know that you’re really embarrassed to bring those offers in front of a third party but at the end of the day this is what we need to discuss if we really want to have a tentative agreement before Christmas,” said Magali Picard, the president of the FTQ.

On Monday – Sonia LeBel, Quebec’s Treasury Board President said she welcomed the mediator and believed it was still possible to make progress on clauses other than wages and the pension plan.

The common front has rejected Quebec’s latest contract offer – a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years and a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker.

Unions haven’t said publicly whether they’ve made a counter-proposal, while their previous demands have included a three-year contract with annual increases tied to the inflation rate.

Teachers at elementary, high school, and CEGEP levels, health care workers, and other public sector workers will be on strike at various times this week.

Common front workers will be on strike Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Nurses and health care workers with the FIQ will be on strike Thursday and Friday.

The fédération autonome de l’enseignement – representing some 65,000 elementary and high school teachers – will launch an unlimited general strike as of Nov. 23.

“People here this morning want to tell the government that they are fully fully solidaire – that they will be there from now until the end. “They’re here to tell to the Legault government enough is enough. It’s shameful the offer still on the table. They will never accept offers like that,” Picard said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2023.