The latest warning to Quebec authorities is the start of a global strike
The public sector didn't come out to work.
More than 420,000 public sector workers began a seven-day strike on Friday, Dec. 8. It is intended to force the Quebec government to pay more decent wages and improve working conditions.
The dates for the strike were set at the end of November when, after the previous three-day strike, the Treasury failed to make an acceptable offer. Now hundreds of thousands of public servants represented by the united Common Front (made up of four unions) will not work until next Friday — the last day of the strike is set for December 14.
On the morning of December 8, a crowd of striking union members gathered in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City. And in Montreal, protesters marched through the main streets.
In response, Sonia Lebel, Quebec's treasury board president, said negotiations with the unions will intensify:
"We're at a crucial moment because everyone seems to be on the same page, including the common front, in wanting to come to an agreement before the end of the year."
She was not wrong in this statement — the unions do intend to resolve the final issue of labor conditions by the end of the month. Strictly speaking, some leaders said that they hope to sign an agreement with the government by December 18 — otherwise they are ready to start an indefinite strike.
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