The latest CSN counter offer, will lower Quebec’s public healthcare and social sector workers hourly wage by $1.50 over a three year contract.

As part of its negotiations with the Quebec, the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) is demanding an increase of $2 an hour in 2020 for its public sector workers.

Also, the union is seeking two consecutive increases of $0.75 for the years 2021 and 2022, or 2.2% for each of the two years, whichever would benefit workers the most.

If the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government accepts the Federation’s’ counter-offer, Quebec public healthcare and social sector workers would receive a total three-year pay rate increase of $3.50 an hour, as opposed to the $5 an hour in the original CSN salary demand.

In October the labour federation demanded a $3 an hour increase for 2020, followed by 3 per cent or $1, whichever amount would benefit the employees the most, for each of the two consecutive years.

The counter-offer follows the government’s latest proposal of two successive increases of 1.75 percent for 2020 and 2021 and 1.5 per cent for 2022.