No progress has been made in a labor dispute affecting civilian employees of four military bases in Quebec, according to a union representative.
510 Non-Publicly Funded (NPF) employees at six sites across Canada – these workers provide services to the military, veterans and their families – gave 94% of their strike orders in December.
Four sites in Quebec, divided into three unionized units: Valcartier, Bagotville and Montreal-Saint-Jean, have been on indefinite general strike since January 15.
“One local branch even voted 100%,” said Yvon Barrière, executive vice-president of the Quebec region of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
Annoying
“We were expecting an invitation this week from the employer to sit at the negotiating table, but we have not received any response. We find it sad,” he lamented.
Salary and establishment of uniform salary scale across the country are the main demands of the union members.
“There is no progress. The department has been saying for years that it is trying to establish a national salary scale. “Some jobs in Ottawa pay 30% more than Valcartier, for the same work, for the same employer,” he lamented.
“The money comes from the Treasury Board, so why does a kinesiologist in Bagotville start at $16.51 an hour, while the same job in the public service goes for three times that? An accounting clerk in Valcartier and Bagotville is paid $21 an hour. In the civil service, it's 40 to 50 % is high,” he asserts.
Assuring his members are benefiting from good strike funding, the trade unionist says the strikers are ready for a long struggle.
Non-Public Funds (NPF) employees demonstrate in front of the Valcartier site on January 17.
Presented by Alexandre Zacharie, ACP
“We've been good players for a long time. It is a continuing strike. Our people want a national scale worthy of public service. At the moment, they are the lowest paid employees in the entire central government,” said Mr. Barrier said.
History
The latter recalls the appearance of employees of non-public sector funds, shedding light on their current situation.
“In the 1960s, they created jobs on bases for military spouses by opening small convenience stores and leisure services. This was done a little trickier, each base had its own system, but it got more and more serious. An order in 1982 said that NPF employees could not be treated as central government employees. We request the Ministry of Defense to cancel this order,” he said.
“Many work 28 to 31.5 hours a week. Because from 32, they are obliged to pay group insurance. We want to hire more people rather than giving them full time. It may take a long time, but I am a big believer in this cause. There is a blatant injustice from the government, which turns a blind eye,” concludes Yvon Barrière.
Number of employees affected in Quebec
- Valcartier: 125
- St. John: 70
- Bagotville: 20
- Montreal: 20
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