Public sector negotiations: A majority of Quebecers consider the government’s offer insufficient

More than half of Quebecers believe the government’s offer of public sector workers is insufficient and that their salaries should at least keep pace with cost-of-living increases.

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This is revealed in an inquiry made public on Monday morning from SOM by the General Front, a coalition of several trade union centres.

The government’s offer of a 3% salary increase in the first year and a 1.5% increase for the next four years was considered inadequate or very inadequate by 56% of respondents, 27% considered it adequate, and 10% considered it generous or very generous.

86% of respondents say they “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree”: “Public sector salaries should at least be indexed to cost-of-living increases”.

Union demands of 2% plus inflation for year 1, inflation of 3% for year 2 and inflation of 4% for year 3 create reactions.

39% of respondents were adequate, 38% generous or generous and 17% inadequate or very inadequate.

“We’ve been saying for months that the government’s concessions have been cut, and it seems that most Quebecers think so,” spokespeople for the various general front union centers responded in a press release. At present, we remember, public opinion is clearly on the side of Labour.

The results are being made public as the General Front plans to ramp up its mobilization next week.

A tour of public meetings will begin on Monday, so that the General Front “stands up”. [dote] A strike order that may extend to an indefinite general strike,” the group said in a press release.

A province-wide protest is also planned on September 23.