Published September 23, 2023, 7:47 am ET
Updated September 23, 2023, 3:38 p.m. ET
Labor leaders Eric Gingras (left to right, CSQ), Robert Comeau (APTS), Magali Picard (FTQ) and François Énault (CSN) march in a united front in front of Parliament in Quebec City on Thursday, March 30, 2023 . THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Thousands of public sector workers carried turquoise flags through downtown Montreal on Saturday afternoon. The workers, representing a collaboration of several unions, say they are prepared to launch a general strike unless the Quebec government can make them a “respectable” offer.
The march took place as unions across the province negotiated new collective agreements with the Quebec government.
The leaders of the four major unions that form the common front, the CSQ, the FTQ, the APTS and the CSN, spoke to the media before the march, while dozens of yellow buses unloaded protesters near Jeanne Mance Park.
Around 420,000 public sector employees form the common front. They work primarily in the areas of health, social care, education and higher education.
“People are angry,” said CSN vice-president François Enault, referring to Quebec’s proposal to increase public sector workers’ salaries by 9 percent over five years. He says that’s just not enough.
“We have been called guardian angels throughout the pandemic. When it comes time to pay for good working conditions, they no longer listen to us,” said CSQ President Éric Gingras.
Union leaders say they are prepared to launch a general strike if the government does not offer more.
“We’re not hoping to get there, (but) it’s a last resort. We are preparing for this because it takes a long time to achieve strike mandates in the public sector,” said Robert Comeau, President of the APTS.
“Our people are ready.”
“If you look at the number of school buses that are here, the charter planes that left Abitibi this morning – our people are ready because they have nothing left to lose,” said FTQ President Magali Picard.
There’s more to come.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 23, 2023.
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