Opinion: Why You Should Vote to Reject the Tentative Agreement

At the FSSS Federal Council, on March 11, 2016, in Drummondville, Quebec, the majority of union delegates present voted to accept the latest tentative agreement.

Four of the six delegates present representing the MUHC CSN Union officially deposited their dissidence, I was one of the four. Therefore, I reserved my right to present to you my views on the agreement along with the recommendation for union members to reject the deal.

THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

What may well become known as the biggest sellout in Quebec labour history happened back in December when the three union leaders publicly announced that a tentative agreement had been struck. “A deal which would end the impoverishment of their members.“

The agreement offers no true-to-life salary gains. Aside from the one time lump sum of approximately $500 the first year, and $250 the fifth year, the salary increase for the first and last year is zero. The total salary rate increase for everyone is 5.25 per cent.

• 40 per cent of clerical staff will receive in 5 years a total salary increase of 5.25 per cent. A far cry from the salary increases of 9.1 to 10.3 per cent over five years, union leaders announced publicly.
• 60 per cent of the members will receive in 5 years a total salary increase of just over 6 %.
• What was gained after the FSSS rejected the previous government offer, is $14.5 million per year for all the eight CSN Federations towards group insurance.

THE SELL-OUT

What may well be the biggest sellout in Quebec labour history, happened on December 20, 2015 when the three union leaders, FTQ President Daniel Boyer, CSN President Jacques Letourneau, and President of the SFPQ and representative of SISP, Lucie Martineau, publicly announced that a tentative agreement has been reached which would end the impoverishment of their members.

David Sanschagrin wrote in the Huffington Post, “Were the union leaders afraid? Were they cowards? Are they more conservative than their base? Do they lack ambition? Were they not able to read the favorable situation that came their way? Difficult to answer these questions, but one thing remains, the Liberal government may be rubbing their hands: they had no cards in hand, yet they easily won the match and the population is left facing a social state in deterioration, a collective loss.” 

The strike was the most significant Labour movement in Quebec’s recent history. The public employees strike was supported by the majority of the province’s population with over two-thirds demanding the Government negotiate fairly with the unions and not impose back to work legislation (Decree).

Maybe the euphoria of the Holiday season got the best of the union leaders, or perhaps their six-figure salaries with expense accounts have separated them from the daily struggles endured by the lower-wage earners they represent.

THE ARGUMENT TO ACCEPT THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Fear is being used to convince you to accept the latest tentative agreement. That the Government stated they will not return to the negotiating table and if we don’t accept the offer, then they will pass a Decree. Which could be worse than what we currently have. While at the same moment stating publicly, “Improving the offers to the FAE and FSSS would break with the principles that guided the negotiations. The government has to act to preserve the quality of public services while respecting its financial framework,” Treasury Board President Sam Hamad said in a news release. 

Could it be worse?? In 2019 a large majority of us will be poorer than we are today.  Some of us could even become the working poor.

Hamad then asked the CSN to ‘get’ the FSSS on board with the government’s offer.  “Treasury Board President Sam Hamad had warned the CSN it had until Monday to get the FSSS on board with the government’s offer.” 

WHY WE SHOULD REJECT THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

This Saturday and Monday the MUHCEU members will vote on the tentative agreement. If you vote to reject the agreement, the message you send to union leaders and the Government is that we will not surrender our dignity. We demand a fair and just wage increase for all our members.

The 2015 contract negotiation strike is the most significant labour movement in Quebec’s recent history. The majority of the province’s population supported the labour strike, with two-thirds demanding the government negotiate fairly and not impose back to work legislation (Decree).

The vote takes place today, Saturday, April 23 and Monday, April 25, check union boards for hours and locations.