Quebec Government's
Unacceptable, Irresponsible and Provocative
Offer
Public Sector Workers Demand Significant Negotiated Improvements to Wages and Working Conditions
- Pierre Chénier -
On December 12, the Quebec government presented
its central offer to union representatives in
the public sector, as part of the negotiations
for the renewal of the collective agreements of
some 550,000 public sector workers. These
collective agreements expire on March 31, 2020.
As soon as the government had tabled its offers,
all the unions rejected them as being out of
touch with the reality on the ground and
insulting to the workers and the demands they
have consistently put forward to significantly
improve the situation.
The government's offer provides for a seven per
cent wage increase over five years, which
amounts to at least three per cent less than the
inflation rate estimated by experts over the
same period. The government is also proposing a
lump sum payment of $1,000 for workers on the
job as of March 31, 2020 who will have reached
their maximum wage scale limit as of that
date. It is estimated that the lump sum,
separate from wages, will only apply to around
50 per cent of the workers involved in the
negotiations. The government is also proposing
to hold three joint discussion forums (of
representatives of employers and workers) on
educational success, access to care for people
in long-term health care facilities or receiving
home care and the overall health of public
sector workers, where additional funds may be
released. Here the government is referring in
particular to caregivers and new teachers.
According to the government, the wage offer,
the lump sum and the additional funds make up an
offer equivalent to inflation, the ceiling it
has set for itself in the negotiations in the
name of Quebeckers' ability to pay and of not
increasing the tax burden on future generations.
The government has declared that its offer is an
acceptable basis for discussion and negotiation
with public sector employees.
This offer continues the practice of previous
governments in refusing to recognize that public
sector workers create immense value for the
society, upon which they have a legitimate
claim. Workers have the right to a negotiated
settlement for their own well-being as well as
for that of the public services they deliver.
The government is also refusing to admit that
the anti-social austerity agenda has brought
public services to a breaking point. A feature
of this, amongst others, is staff exhaustion, a
high level of absenteeism related to sickness
which further exacerbates the exhaustion of
those who remain at work, and the development of
acute mental health problems and psychological
distress amongst workers.
Clearly the government is closing its eyes to
the fact that insufficient wages are at the
heart of the problem of workforce
recruitment and retention and therefore of
mental health and distress. It has cynically
calculated that it will use the power of the
state to ensure that the system continues to
operate despite the crisis and that public
sector workers continue to keep the system going
against all odds. The workers do so largely out
of dedication to those they care for and to the
youth they educate. Fundamentally, the
government's attitude is no different from that
of previous governments which paved the way for
disasters like that in Lac-Mégantic through
their refusal to take up their social
responsibilities and as a result of their
obsession for narrow private profit.
Furthermore, the government's claim that its
offer is a starting point for good faith
bargaining is false. Good faith bargaining would
require a qualitative element, the recognition
of the contribution that public sector workers
make to society, respect for their dignity and
the recognition of their right to negotiated
wages and working conditions they deem
acceptable. None of this exists in their offer.
It therefore is not a basis for negotiation and
can only be rejected with contempt.
Workers' Forum joins with the hundreds
of thousands of Quebec public sector workers in
rejecting this offer in its form and content and
demands that the government significantly
improve public sector wages and working
conditions. On the occasion of the renewal of
their collective agreements, Workers' Forum
is opening its pages to the struggle of
public sector workers and will provide relevant
information, analysis and views and give pride
of place to their voices.
Enough is Enough!
For an Immediate and Significant Improvement in
Public Sector
Wages and Working Conditions!
This article was published in
Number 31 - December 19, 2019
Article Link:
Quebec Government's
Unacceptable, Irresponsible and Provocative
Offer: Public Sector Workers Demand Significant Negotiated Improvements to Wages and Working Conditions - Pierre Chénier
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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