Union members at the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ) have just given themselves a strike mandate that will activated at the appropriate time.
There are 2,500 members of the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ), a large union independent of the central labour bodies.
Some 88 per cent of them voted in favour of a heavy-handed pressure tactics mandate, which could go as far as an unlimited general strike.
The SFPQ points out that its members affected by these negotiations work in provincial parks, wildlife reserves, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, Manoir Morency, the head office, campsites, tourist centres, the Mont-Albert Lodge, the Chic-Chocs mountain inn, the Port-Meunier inn and the Quebec aquarium.
Asked for comment, SÉPAQ management pointed out that “during discussions, it is legitimate and common for the union side to seek levers to put pressure on the employer. This is what is currently happening with the SFPQ and its strike mandates.”
When it announced its intention to seek a strike mandate from its members in January, the SFPQ warned that any heavy-handed pressure tactics could begin “as soon as the season starts,” with fishing and the opening of the parks.
The dispute
The dispute mainly concerns pay rises, but also the flexibility expected of employees and staff mobility.
“The massive vote in favour of strike action sends out a clear message: the pay rises proposed at the negotiating table are unacceptable. They barely cover the rise in the cost of living. The average wage of our members is between $16 and $17 an hour, while the minimum wage that will be in force in Quebec next May will be $16.10 an hour,” said SFPQ vice-president Michel Girard.
“The Legault government is still refusing to offer the catch-up obtained by the entire public sector in 2023. The CAQ must stop putting obstacles in the way of negotiations if we want to reach a settlement in the next few weeks and avoid a labour dispute,” said SFPQ president Christian Daigle.
“We have tabled a wage offer, the channels of communication are open and we are putting all our energy into the bargaining table to find common ground,” said the employer.
The agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2023.
“We are still in discussions with the SFPQ, the channels of communication are open and SÉPAQ is committed to reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement and will spare no effort to do so,” said the employer. “Our policy is not to negotiate in the public arena, so as not to interfere with the discussions. We will therefore put our arguments to the parties around the table. We will not comment on the union’s assertions.”
As no strike date has yet been announced, SÉPAQ points out that “the institutions in the network represented by the SFPQ are operating normally. The current negotiations do not affect their activity and accommodation offer. We are confident of reaching a satisfactory settlement before reaching a labour dispute.”
“We must reach an agreement that satisfies our employees, respects our ability to pay and does not increase the bill for visitors,” concludes SÉPAQ.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 3, 2025.
