Achi news desk-
The Société des alcools du Québec store and office workers union, which represents about 5,000 workers at the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), begins its two-day strike on Wednesday.
The union confirmed at midnight Wednesday on its Facebook page that it was striking over what it called insufficient progress at the bargaining table.
Unless there is a significant breakthrough, the strike is expected to continue on Thursday.
These two strike days are the first of the 15-day strike mandate of the union members.
The main points of contention include adding permanent jobs, access to insurance and access to training.
The salary question has not yet been addressed, reports the union, which is part of the CSN-affiliated Fédération des employé(e)s des services publics (FEESP-CSN).
The SAQ management, for its part, indicated at the beginning of the week that a business continuity plan would be established in the event of a strike to offer customers limited access to its network of branches.
On Wednesday, several events are planned to take place in connection with the strike, including in Montreal, Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Gatineau, Rouen-Noranda and Sainte-Thérèse.
Union representatives also plan to meet the media Wednesday morning at Montreal’s Festival Square.
SAQ President and CEO Jacques Farcy appeared before the National Assembly on Tuesday to discuss the SAQ component of the Treasury budget and expressed confidence in reaching an agreement with the unionized workers.
“Negotiations are very active; progress is real at the table, so that makes us confident that we will reach an agreement,” Farsi said.
However, he clarified that in the event of a labor dispute, the SAQ’s aim is to keep as many branches as possible open with management working on the floor.
— This Canadian Press report was first published in French on April 24, 2024.
