AT A GLANCE | On November 3, approximately 300 FTQ union activists, including members of UES 800, gathered in Laval to launch consultations ahead of the next round of public sector bargaining. Wages, recognition, heavy workloads, workplace violence and a lack of resources are among the many challenges ahead. Under the theme “We believe in our public services!”, unions are coming together to defend the working conditions of the people who keep our public services running every day.
On November 3, approximately 300 activists from the FTQ and its affiliated unions gathered in Laval to kick off consultations ahead of the next round of public sector bargaining. Among them were UES 800 members who came to make their voices heard.
The last round of public sector bargaining left a lasting impression. Hundreds of thousands of workers mobilized across Quebec to demand better working conditions and greater recognition for their contributions to society.
Three years later, unions are preparing to return to the bargaining table. But many challenges remain: staffing shortages, excessive workloads, workplace violence, difficulties recruiting and retaining employees, and the budgetary pressures facing public institutions.
One conviction remains unchanged: we cannot defend the quality of our public services without standing up for the people who make them possible.
Behind our public services are people who deserve recognition
Every day, thousands of workers in our schools, health care facilities and social services contribute to the well-being of people across Quebec. Their work is essential. Yet the conditions under which they carry out that work are becoming increasingly difficult.
In her opening remarks, FTQ President Magali Picard reminded participants that public services depend first and foremost on the people who deliver them. Attracting and retaining staff requires investment in public institutions, better working conditions and meaningful recognition of workers' contributions.
That recognition will be at the heart of the upcoming negotiations.
But beyond wage demands, Marie Deschênes, Acting President of UES 800, emphasized the deeply human side of working conditions in her opening remarks:
“In the next round of bargaining, we will be fighting to put more money in your pockets, improve your quality of life and secure greater recognition for the work you do.
But beyond wages, we also need to protect workers. Workplace violence, health and safety must also be central to the discussions.
The government is still an employer, and it certainly won't meet its obligations by trying to avoid its responsibilities through legislation.
Right now, it seems that its only priority is to save money. But it also has a responsibility to look after its workers, to find concrete solutions and to make sure no one comes home broken by their working conditions.”
Different realities, shared concerns
Throughout the day, roundtable discussions focused on the challenges facing different sectors.
In education, Jonathan Côté, a UES 800 member with the Central Québec School Board, took part in a roundtable discussion to share the realities faced by school support staff.
He drew attention to a growing concern: the rise in violence in schools.
He also highlighted the consequences of insufficient resources to meet students' needs. For staff, this means heavier workloads, situations that can be difficult to manage and the feeling that they do not always have the resources needed to provide students with the support they deserve.
In health and social services, discussions focused primarily on challenges related to how services are organized and the lack of resources needed to adequately meet the population's needs.
Despite the differences between sectors, many concerns are shared: wages that keep pace with the cost of living, recognition of jobs, work schedules, work-life balance, contracting out, and occupational health and safety.
All of these issues will need to be considered during the upcoming consultations.
Bargaining in a changing environment
The next round of bargaining will not take place under exactly the same rules as in 2023. Legislative changes have altered how responsibilities are divided between the different levels of bargaining. Issues previously negotiated locally will now be addressed at the sectoral bargaining tables.
These changes make it even more important to carefully prepare union demands and ensure that the realities experienced in individual workplaces are taken into account.
The next round of bargaining is also beginning in a concerning political climate. As calls for major cuts to public spending become more frequent, some proposals are also raising concerns about an expanding role for the private sector in delivering public services.
For unions, the stakes therefore go beyond wages and benefits. They also involve defending the resources needed to ensure that public services remain accessible, high-quality and capable of meeting the population's needs.
Mobilization remains as important as ever
The last round of bargaining demonstrated what workers can achieve when they mobilize around shared goals. This spirit of solidarity was central to the remarks made by several union leaders gathered in Laval.
Within the FTQ, five affiliated unions — CUPE, SQEES-298, SEPB, the Teamsters and UES 800 — collectively represent approximately 70,000 public sector workers across more than 380 job classifications.
Discussions are continuing among unions about possible forms of collaboration. But one thing is certain: mobilization does not begin at the bargaining table. It starts long before, by listening to members, sharing their concerns and setting priorities together.
For UES 800 members, this preparation period will be an opportunity to make their concerns heard and help shape the demands that will be brought to the bargaining tables.
The consultations launched on November 3 will lead to the submission of union bargaining demands in fall 2027.
We believe in our public services!
The day concluded with the unveiling of the campaign that will accompany FTQ-affiliated unions as they prepare for bargaining: “We believe in our public services!”
A simple message, but one that reflects a deeply held conviction.
Believing in our public services means recognizing their importance to our society. It also means recognizing the people who make them possible every day, often under demanding working conditions.