Ferry workers have been on strike since last night. All ferries are stopped in Quebec, Sorel and Matane while services are reduced to L’Isle-aux-Coudres and Tadoussac.
The approximately 150 navigation officers or engineering officers who are members of the United Steelworkers Union walked off the job Friday morning.
The situation is forcing many motorists to review their route and make detours of up to hundreds of kilometers to be able to cross the St. Lawrence River. This is particularly the case for users from Matane, who must pass through Trois-Pistoles or Rivière-du-Loup to reach the North Shore.
Moreover, the impact of the strike in Matane is felt on the Rivière-du-Loup wharf. Several motorists who had arrived at the crossing towards Saint-Siméon for the 11:15 a.m. crossing on Friday were forced to wait for the next departure. The boat was already full a little over an hour before boarding.
We arrived at 6h45 this morning [pour l’embarquement de 7h45] and we couldn’t board. On the advice of the young man, we went for a little walk and returned an hour in advance [en vue de l’embarquement de 11h15]and there, we are told that perhaps we will not board“,”text”:”We arrived at 6:45 this morning [pour l’embarquement de 7h45] and we couldn’t board. On the advice of the young man, we went for a little walk and returned an hour in advance [en vue de l’embarquement de 11h15]and there, we are told that perhaps we will not board”}}”> We arrived at 6:45 this morning [pour l’embarquement de 7 h 45] and we couldn’t board. On the advice of the young man, we went for a little walk and returned an hour in advance [en vue de l’embarquement de 11 h 15]and there, we are told that perhaps we will not board
laments a motorist who is going fishing on the North Shore.
In Tadoussac, patience is also required when crossing to Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
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This trucker deplores the wait at the Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine crossing.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Benoît Jobin
They prevent us from working. They don’t think about transport, we are taken hostage. We waste time and we lose money
commented a trucker he met while waiting in line to cross towards Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
For some travelers, like Martine, who has to go to Montreal to catch a flight to France to return home, the wait is above all a source of worry.
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Martine visited the North Shore in the last few days.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Benoît Jobin
As a vacationer, this risks creating some problems for me, especially getting to my hotel on time to return the rental car. Had we known, we might have changed our itinerary
she believes.
Salary conditions at the heart of the dispute
In an interview with Radio-Canada, Luc Laberge, responsible for the maritime sector at the United Steelworkers Union, specifies that it is the salary conditions that mainly stumble at the negotiating table. He denounces the use of subcontracting to compensate for the labor shortage.
He also deplores a incredible slowness
on the part of the employer party in the negotiations. The union asks the Quebec Treasury Board to give real mandates to the negotiators of the Ferry Company.
Meetings will have to look each other in the eye without being able to move forward on the real issues. There are always limits to letting things drag on
writes the assistant to the Quebec director of the Steelworkers, Nicolas Lapierre.
For its part, the management party reacted by email. STQ respects its employees’ right to strike, but we find it unfortunate that the employees have resorted to this means of pressure at this time, since the negotiations are continuing, as the negotiation schedule provides.”,”text “:”The STQ respects the right to strike of its employees, but we find it unfortunate that the employees have resorted to this means of pressure at this time, since the negotiations are continuing, as the negotiation schedule provides. “}}”>There STQ respects the right to strike of its employees, but we find it unfortunate that the employees have resorted to this means of pressure at this time, since the negotiations are continuing, as the negotiation schedule provides.
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Union members picket in front of the Quebec boarding dock.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Marie-Ève Trudel
The communications advisor, Bruno Verreault, deplores that the strike penalizes thousands of Quebecers who will travel throughout the territory for the National Day long weekend.
STQ which chooses the pressure tactics”,”text”:”The STQ remains available to continue negotiations and avoid resorting to a strike in the future, but ultimately, it is not the STQ which chooses the pressure tactics” }}”>The STQ remains available to continue negotiations and avoid resorting to a strike in the future, but ultimately, it is not the STQ who chooses the means of pressure
he concludes.
STQ is a separate employer and is responsible for conducting negotiations with its employees”,”text”:”The government is hopeful that the parties will reach an agreement. Note that the STQ is a separate employer and is responsible for conducting negotiations with its employees”}}”>The government is hopeful that the parties will reach an agreement. Note that the STQ is a separate employer and is responsible for conducting negotiations with its employees
reacted the Minister of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, by email.
Other strikes to come
Regular services will resume Sunday morning, but they will be suspended again in July while employees of the Société des ferries who are affiliated with the CSN will in turn strike.
The ferry between Quebec and Lévis will be stopped from July 5 to 15, during the Quebec Summer Festival.
Crossings between Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout will strike in two stages. From July 22 to 26 for employees on land, then from July 29 to August 2 for those who work on the ship.
The Steelworkers could also strike again since they have a bank of 10 days of strike remaining.
With information from Marie-Ève Trudel, Charles-Étienne Drouin and Camille Lacroix
