Government engineers threaten to resume strike this winter

After walking off the job for a few days in November, then returning to work, engineers who work for the Quebec government are threatening to use pressure tactics again this winter.

These approximately 2,000 engineers work in the ministries of Transport, Environment, Natural Resources, Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, for example.

Members of the Professional Association of Government Engineers of Quebec (APIGQ) launched an indefinite strike on November 14.

Then they returned to work after five days, “by strategy,” said the president of the engineers’ union, Marc-André Martin, in an interview on Tuesday.

But the government has not moved since then, he lamented.

L’APIGQ is now threatening to resort to pressure tactics again. Certainly this winter. We will do it during constructionwarns Mr. Martin.

It could also be a refusal to work overtime or another form of strike. Mr. Martin says he wants to keep the element of surprise when the time comes.

Negotiations to renew the collective agreement have not ended, however.

Several points of friction

Discussions continue at the tablesays the Treasury Board. However, Mr. Martin maintains thatwe are waiting for a phone call from both sides.

The dispute concerns remuneration, the use of subcontracting to the private sector, the flexibility expected of engineers and their professional autonomy.

L’APIGQ claims that its members do more engineering tasks and can do more field work, and spend less time on paperwork and approving invoices.

Asked to comment, the Treasury Board recalled that it had succeeded in renewing the collective agreements which concern 98% of employees in the public and parapublic sectors.

at theAPIGQ which complains of still not having been offered salary increases of 17.4% over 5 years, like what all state employees have obtained, the office of Minister Sonia LeBel responds: We said it during negotiations with other unions, our salary offer could be improved depending on the compensation obtained in terms of flexibility in the organization of work.