(Montreal) The Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) on Wednesday concluded a comprehensive agreement in principle with the Legault government, which includes both wages and working conditions. However, the representatives of the affected unions must be consulted before a final and official approval.
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“I am very happy to announce a comprehensive agreement in principle with the CSN, which represents nearly 155,000 employees. This means that an agreement in principle has been reached with nearly 80% of employees in the health sector and 98% of employees in the education sector, ”the President of the Treasury Board said on Wednesday. Sonia LeBel, on Twitter, without going any further.
In a press release, the CSN, for its part, was more cautious, speaking instead of “important advances made by the CSN’s public sector negotiation teams at the various sectoral tables”.
The CSN, which represents 160,000 workers in the health and education networks through four associated federations, will now consult union representatives over the next few days on this comprehensive agreement in principle.
However, it is only if these delegates approve the agreement in principle that the vote will then be submitted to the members, at separate general meetings. However, the union did not want to disclose the content of the agreement until it was presented to the union delegates concerned.
“Considering that these advances meet several demands that the CSN has made since the start of negotiations, both in terms of working conditions and practice as well as that of wages and other intersectoral matters, the public sector federations of the CSN will recommend that the delegates vote in favor of this agreement, ”it has nevertheless already been specified.
Progress at the APTS
On the side of the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS), there has also been progress, but at a less advanced stage in the process.
For the moment, the Alliance says it has received a “global employers’ offer”, which its national negotiating council is examining on Wednesday. If he accepts it, it will then be considered an agreement in principle.
This possible agreement in principle would then be submitted to the General Council, then, if necessary, to the 60,000 members of the APTS. This represents medical technologists, psychologists, nutritionists and others, who work in youth centers and health establishments.
Earlier today, the FTQ announced that its tentative agreement, which was reached on May 29, had been 94% ratified by its members. The collective agreements covering 550,000 government employees expired on March 31, 2020. Those currently being negotiated will expire on March 31, 2023.
With The Canadian Press
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