On this Thursday, November 23, Quebec is living through a historic moment. For the first time since its foundation, more than 10% of the active population - or 570,000 workers - are on strike.

In the Suroît region, employees of the Common Front and the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec were clearly visible earlier on Thursday, in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. 

Interestingly, of the 570,000 employees braving the November cold to make their rights heard, 450,000 are women, according to data provided by the Common Front. 

In Vaudreuil-Dorion, in front of the CLSC de Vaudreuil-Dorion, a few hundred workers from the education and health care sectors demonstrated to obtain a new work contract. 

On Wednesday November 22, school network employees affiliated with the Common Front gathered in front of the Saint-Clet office of Marilyne Picard, MP for Soulanges. 

"It's difficult to justify a $5-7 million investment for a team of millionaires in a context where Finance Minister Girard recently announced that his government had little room to manoeuvre. Ability to pay is a political choice. A serious analysis of Quebec's public finances confirms that significant reinvestment in our working conditions is not only possible, but essential to preserving the quality and accessibility of our public services," asserted Éric Vézina, President of the Syndicat du personnel de soutien des Trois-Lacs. 

According to the Common Front, given the state of the public networks, if the government wants to be an employer of choice, it has to translate into action at the bargaining table.

"The government will have to put on its best skates and sweater and get to the bargaining table quickly.To settle negotiations, the government will have to agree to listen to the demands of experienced players. We're ready to negotiate, and that's why some members took advantage of today's strike to wink at Ms. Picard while demonstrating and playing a game of field hockey in front of her offices," he said. 

Earlier this week, a conciliator was appointed to the negotiating table by Quebec at the request of the Common Front, in order to move negotiations forward.This initiative is intended to generate real movement in the negotiations and move the parties towards an agreement, according to a press release. 

The FIQ also wants to be heard

In Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, in front of the Centre hospitalier du Suroît, the situation was the same, as tides of workers invaded the sidewalks to make noise and convey their message in a pacifist manner.

On the ground at both locations, children could be seen accompanying their parents in their demands. 

For the FIQ and the Common Front, this is the second strike since early November. In the healthcare sector, 80,000 care professionals from the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec-FIQ took turns walking out. They work as nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists. 

"When a government deems it reasonable to offer care professionals a pay rise that doesn't even cover inflation, when it wants to move them from one center of activity to another like pawns, without taking their expertise into account, there's only one thing to do: denounce the unacceptable and turn up the pressure.Our members are angry because they don't have the means to care for their patients at a level commensurate with their expertise," says Julie Bouchard, President of the FIQ.

"Gone are the days when the government could underpay us and rely on our 'vocation'. We're not caregivers, we're care professionals with families. Pay us what we're worth! The latest offers don't even cover inflation," adds Ms. Bouchard.

For the President of the FIQ, the solution proposed by the Legault government regarding the organization of work is not the right one. "What he's proposing is the exact opposite.Sending anyone, anytime, anyhow is not progress, it's madness. It will only increase the exodus we're already experiencing in the network and diminish safe patient care," she asserts. 

Although no official announcement has been made by the union bodies, there is speculation on the ground that a third strike wave, longer than this week's, could be held in December if negotiations are not concluded in the next few days.