Hundreds of public-sector employees carried turquoise flags Saturday afternoon via downtown Montreal. The employees, representing a collaboration of a number of unions, say they’re able to launch normal strike until the Quebec authorities can provide them a “respectable” provide.
The march occurred whereas unions throughout the province negotiate new collective agreements with the Quebec authorities.
Presidents of the 4 main unions that type the widespread entrance, the CSQ, the FTQ, the APTS and the CSN, spoke to the media forward of the march, whereas dozens of yellow buses unloaded demonstrators close to Jeanne-Mance Park.
About 420,000 public-sector employees make up the common-front. They primarily work in well being, social providers, schooling and better schooling.
“Persons are offended,” mentioned François Enault, vice-president of the CSN, referring to Quebec’s proposal to extend the salaries of public sector employees by 9 per cent over 5 years. He says that’s simply not sufficient.
“We had been referred to as guardian angels all through the pandemic. When it is time to pay for good working situations, they not hearken to us,” mentioned CSQ president Éric Gingras.
Union leaders say they’re able to launch a normal strike if the federal government doesn’t provide extra.
“We do not hope to get there, (however) it is a final resort. We’re making ready to do it, as a result of it takes a very long time to realize strike mandates within the public sector,” mentioned Robert Comeau, president of the APTS.
“Our persons are prepared.”
“When you have a look at the variety of faculty buses which can be right here, of chartered planes that left Abitibi this morning – our persons are prepared, as a result of they don’t have anything left to lose,” mentioned FTQ president Magali Picard.
Individuals participate in a public sector union demonstration in Montreal, Saturday, September 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Demonstrators descended on Montreal from all around the province.
“That is for our working situations, and the situations of the individuals who will come after us,” mentioned Andrée Morin, who works on the CIUSSS du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, and flew in to town for the protest. “We will’t go backwards, we should proceed to maneuver ahead.”
Joanie St-George, a secretary in a faculty within the Joliette area, mentioned she was impressed by her two veteran colleagues, who she walked with throughout the march.
“I’m the subsequent era,” she mentioned. “There is a scarcity of manpower, and we will not maintain our greatest folks. If we would like issues to work, we have to have salaries that appeal to folks, and retains them working, too.’
Patricia Gauthier-Grégoire, who works with individuals who have bodily disabilities in a rehabilitation heart, additionally mentioned she was involved about working situations in her area.
“These are individuals who have greater schooling, and who lose buying energy yearly,” she mentioned. “We’re shedding employees … who will as a substitute work jobs the place the salaries and situations are higher.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed in French on Sept. 23, 2023.
