Hundreds of thousands of Quebec union workers announce week-long strike
CTV
The Common Front of unions announced strike days from Dec. 8 to 14, meaning nearly half a million of Quebec's public workers will be off the job again if a deal is not reached.
The Common Front of unions announced strike days from Dec. 8 to 14, meaning nearly half a million of Quebec's public workers will be off the job again if a deal is not reached.
The Common Front is made up of the CSN, CSQ, FTQ, and APTS unions and represents around 420,000 workers in the health, social services, and education sectors.
"This is a final strike sequence before calling an unlimited general strike," said union presidents in a joint news release. "This announcement demonstrates our seriousness and our determination to reach an agreement before the holidays. Each time, we leave room for negotiation, but let's be clear: we will keep up the pressure and pursue our strategy of deploying our actions in crescendo."
The Common Front held a single strike day on Nov. 6 and followed by three strike days from Nov. 21 to 23.
Union representatives say that working conditions are unacceptable, the work union members do is undervalued and that wages remain low.
"Our members clearly felt it on the picket lines during last week's three-day strike. Something is happening in Quebec, and the momentum is there, for our networks, for workers, for services and for the public," the leaders said. "It's time to open up the engines, get the mandates down and reach a settlement at all the negotiating tables."
The unions will join the already striking federation of teachers' unions in the French-language system (FAE - Fédération autonome de l'enseignement) are on a general unlimited strike, which, they say, could last until Christmas. Are you a parent concerned about the strike's impact on your children's school year? We'd like to hear from you for a news story. E-mail us at MontrealDigitalNews@bellmedia.ca
