If the issue of working conditions is far from being resolved, so is that of wages. In particular, the CSN is calling for wage increases in fixed amounts to help particularly those who earn lower wages.
“Between 2003 and 2015,” says Begley, “we lost 30% to inflation and the situation has not improved over the past five years either. We also see more and more people leaving the network and it is difficult to attract new ones. “
This exodus phenomenon is moreover “much worse” in the Outaouais, underlines Ms. McMillan, since the wages of several jobs are more interesting in Ontario, on the other side of the river.
“There are not 30,000 solutions: we must increase wages significantly, especially for those who earn the least,” she insists.
The post-COVID worries
In addition, both on the side of Mr. Begley and Ms. McMillan, the post COVID is a source of concern.
“The post-COVID period is worrying,” admits Ms. McMillan. Are we going to have workers who will fall in battle? Will we have more workers who will be sick after having experienced great pressure since March? These are possibilities. “
“If the world is down and there is no prospect of improvement, things are going to be very bad,” says Mr. Begley. At first the adrenaline and a sense of the need to help take over and people speed up to 100 miles an hour. But at some point, the adrenaline is gone and if we don’t give them any prospect of improvement, that worries me a lot. “
It should be noted that across the province, the FSSS-CSN has more than 120,000 members in the public and private sectors.
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