SAQ office, technical, and professional employees launch first strike in 51 years

A group of roughly 500 SAQ employees launched a seven-day strike on Thursday, marking the retailer’s first labour disruption in 51 years.

The employees on strike come from the office, technical and professional sectors — positions that support everything from online services to inventory logistics and product quality.

Their union, the SPTP-SAQ-CSN, argues that these behind-the-scenes roles are essential to the corporation’s daily functioning and warns that the impact of the strike could grow if it extends beyond this initial mandate.

Union president Steve D’Agostino addressed reporters at a press conference in the Old Port, where the 15th edition of La Grande Dégustation de Montréal is underway. The union selected the location intentionally, stating that the event relies heavily on the work of its members.

Earlier in the day, picket lines were also set up outside the SAQ’s head office.

“What the leaders of SAQ gives us is not enough, we’re getting poor, we’re not getting the same thing as other groups, not even what the government gets, not even what inside SAQ other groups get,” D’Agostino said. “We’re missing a lot thousands of dollars of power, buying powers, we had only 2.5 per cent augmentation in the last four years, so really its not enough to have a convention today.”

The union’s main demands include salary increases and formal telework options in the next collective agreement.

D’Agostino said members are prepared to continue pressure tactics if talks stall in the coming days.

For its part, the SAQ previously said in a press release that negotiations are continuing and that it aims to reach an agreement that satisfies both employees and the organization.

Despite the strike, the SAQ adds its contingency plan is active and stores remain open.

“We’re disappointed, it’s the first time in 51 years that we go on strike, so its not for nothing,” said D’Agostino.