(Montreal) Negotiations by the Union of Government Professionals are reaching a turning point, as it gives itself two weeks to try to “resolve the impasse” that persists with Quebec.
Posted at 3:28 p.m.
Updated at 4:02 p.m.
Lia Levesque
The Canadian Press
The SPGQ is currently discussing essential services to maintain in the event of a strike, and will then decide on the next course of action, its president, Guillaume Bouvrette, said in an interview on Tuesday.
The SPGQ, which represents 25,000 professionals employed by various Quebec ministries, has held two different strike mandates since last fall: the first is an evening, night and public holiday strike; the second is a strike which could be divided into minutes, hours, days, or even unlimited.
By May 24, we hope to have concluded all essential service agreements. That still leaves two weeks, roughly speaking, at the negotiating table to try to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, we will have to consider it.
Guillaume Bouvrette, president of the SPGQ
The latest discussions with the management side highlighted two sticking points, relating to schedules, reports the union leader.
The Quebec government wants to obtain more flexibility from professionals, as it has asked of other state employees, in order to meet needs.
“But we think that sincerely, if there was a desire to settle, on the part of the government, we would be ready to find solutions to put in place the flexibility that is requested on working hours,” adds Mr. Bouvrette.
On the issue of teleworking – an important strong point for professionals – Mr. Bouvrette reports having “progressed”, in the sense that the principle would be included in a letter of understanding annexed to the future collective agreement.
The SPGQ is still in conciliation; discussions have not been broken off with the government. “The next few days or weeks in the very short term will tell us whether we are at an impasse or not. »
Mr. Bouvrette affirms that the SPGQ is “in constant discussion” with the Public and Parapublic Service Union (SFPQ) – the other large civil servant union which has still not renewed its collective agreement, which expired on March 31, 2023.
The SFPQ will soon begin to consult its 27,000 members on a mandate for heavy pressure tactics that could lead to an indefinite strike.
