Achi news desk-
Workers with Quebec’s forest fire agency have voted 99 percent in favor of a strike mandate as the summer wildfire season approaches.
The Unifor union, which represents the province’s fire service workers including firefighters, communications staff and mechanics, says the mandate allows members to strike “at this time.”
Workers with the fire service – the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu, or SOPFEU – were kept busy last year during a record-breaking wildfire season.
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Unifor says that despite the involvement of a mediator, talks have stalled over issues such as wages, holidays and workforce mobility.
Quebec law requires SOPFEU workers to carry out essential operations during a strike.
The forest fire protection service, which employs about 450 people, says Quebec saw slightly more fires than average in April, with 52 fires burning about 46 hectares.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
