Exasperated by the employer’s intransigence, the approximately 5,000 employees of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) once again launched a strike on Monday to denounce the impasse in the negotiations.
The union is planning a press conference at 10 a.m. in front of the Jean-Talon market branch with Lisa Courtemanche, president of the SAQ store and office employees union, and the president of the CSN, Caroline Senneville.
In addition to improving working conditions for part-time employees, the union is calling for protection of the number of regular positions, while barely 30% of employees can count on such conditions.
“Since the beginning of October, the employer has essentially been telling us the same thing: withdraw all your requests, accept all our setbacks and perhaps, one day, we will discuss your priorities. This position is unacceptable,” denounced Ms. Courtemanche.
In response to the employer’s offer of 16.5% over six years, the union tabled a wage counter-proposal of 20% over five years and wished to obtain rapid access to the employee insurance plan instead. to wait seven years, as is currently the case.
“There is no company in Quebec that operates with nearly 70% of its employees on such a precarious basis,” said Caroline Senneville, who in passing calls out the Minister of Finance Eric Girard on the precariousness of employees. of the SAQ.
Monday morning, the SAQ did not specify whether branches will be open as it did during the last employee strike on October 18, providing service by managers in around sixty branches.
