Nunavik schools, health services affected as Quebec public sector strike enters 2nd day
More than 400,000 public sector workers part of 3-day action across the province
Non-emergency health-care services across Nunavik may be slowed down this week due to a provincewide strike of 420,000 Quebec public sector workers this week, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services said on Wednesday. (File photo)
Health services across Nunavik may be slowed this week due to a provincewide strike of Quebec’s public sector workers, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services said Wednesday.
Public schools are also closed across Quebec.
Approximately 420,000 public sector workers across the province were off the job for a second day Wednesday, part of a planned three-day strike by health-care professionals, education workers and social service workers.
They are all members of a group of Quebec public sector unions known as the common front, or “Front commun” in French.
The group includes the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, Centrale des syndicats du Québec, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec and Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux.
Nunavik health board spokesperson Kathleen Poulin said the strike will affect some health-care services across Nunavik.
Nunavik’s two health centres, Inuulitsivik Health Centre in Puvurnituq and the Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre in Kuujjuaq, have established contingency plans to maintain essential services, she said.
“Managers are also being called in to replace striking employees. However, it is important to bear in mind that not all employees at the [two health centres] will be replaced by their managers, due to the large number of employees who will be on strike,” Poulin said.
She added the strike could slow down services on the Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay coasts.
However, emergency and other services will remain as normal. Dispensaries will remain open for emergency care and intensive care units and health and psychosocial emergency care will not be affected by the strike, Poulin said.
She directed people toward the Facebook pages of local health centres and communities to get updated information on the general strike.
The common front of unions is demanding a three-year contract with Quebec that includes annual increases tied to inflation rates.
On Oct. 29, the province gave its latest contract offer, a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years and a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker. The unions rejected the offer.
The strike is scheduled to last until 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
However, The Canadian Press reported Wednesday that separately from the common front, a union representing about 80,000 health-care workers is scheduled to strike Thursday and Friday.
Another teachers’ union representing 65,000 members is also launching a separate general strike Thursday.
A conciliator was recently appointed to work with the unions and the provincial government, The Canadian Press also reported.
UNIONS!!
What with the economy we have 3-year max contracts should be the rule. In 5 years what things will be like is far beyond anyone’s knowledge or guess. When our union negotiated contracts that was the standard 3 years. Without unions we would probably have child labour and 10 to 12 hour long workdays.
Without Unions we would be mining company serfs. Tied to the land and paid in company scrip.
The MNA’s gave themselves a 30% wage increase in June 2023, they offer us peanuts, inflation came in at 3.1% for October so 3.1% a year for 3 years is 9.3% or over 5 years is 15.5% increase, do the math folks, all were asking for is fairness, just saying.
Another 4 day strike is planned for December 8th, 11th, 12th 13th, here we go again folks.