Ahead of major public sector strikes across Quebec this week, the province has announced it will appoint a conciliator to help bridge the gap in labour negotiations. Union workers in the public sector demonstrate in Quebec City, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
QUEBEC – The province 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 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.
A union outside the common front and representing about 65,000 teachers will launch an unlimited general strike on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2023.
