Premiums at the Society des Alcoles du Quebec | Targets were missed and union members were fired

Bonuses are low for executives and non-union employees of the Society des Alcoles du Quebec (SAQ), who failed to achieve all of their goals last year. In addition, fewer checks will now be distributed as union members are no longer eligible for this kitty.

Julian Arsenal
Press

Taking these factors into account, the total distribution to executives and non-union staff reached 6.7 million last year, a decrease of 30% compared to 2020-2021. Data provided by Crown Corporation under Law regarding access to documents held by public bodies and protection of personal information.

About 900 members of the syndicate des Travillers de la Society des Alcoles du Quebec (STTSAQ), an affiliate of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), are the last to be eligible for the bonus. During the final renewal of their collective agreement they relinquished this advantage in lieu of what was described as an “advance”.

We are against the bonus system. The employer camouflaged the millions given to executives and others with bonuses paid to union employees.

Michelle Gratton, CUPE Union Representative

The union represents warehouse and delivery workers – who left the job last fall before agreeing to a temporary contract with the employer – as well as traders such as janitors and cooks, its spokeswoman said.

What CUPE received for giving up annual bonuses was: “Better working conditions,” Gratton said.

“The starting salary is about $ 23,” he explained. Insurance coverage is best. We also changed some of the inequalities in treatment between newcomers and those with greater seniority. ⁇

SAQ said the agreement was “to the satisfaction of both parties”.

STTSAQ is the last union whose members are entitled to annual bonuses in the SAQ. Since 2020, the Technical and Professional Staff Union has not benefited from this mechanism.

Franయిois Dauphin, director general of the Institute for the Governance of Private and Public Organizations, believes this is a more “logical” approach to pay.

“We are moving closer to traditional business logic,” the expert emphasized. Bonuses are disguised as union members’ salaries. Also unify them in Remuneration. ⁇

Less money

At the end of the year, particularly marked by rising prices, SAQ boosted sales by $ 3.8 billion to 7.4%, while its net profit was $ 1.4 billion, up approximately 11%.

However, officials will see a reduction in the amount of bonuses.

“The overall amount is less important because specific targets for wastage of time along with reduction in net costs and number of work risks have not been achieved,” said SAQ spokesman Clemens Beaulieu Zandron.

The goal is to reduce the number of lost time accidents by 7%. Instead the index showed a 3.9% increase in 2021-2022. In terms of net expenses, the Crown Corporation’s target is almost $ 25 million more.

SAQ President and CEO, Catherine Dagenice, received a total of $ 530,000 in compensation and a $ 65,000 bonus. The top five executives of SAQ share approximately $ 320,000 in bonuses.

At a parliamentary committee meeting last May, the head of a state-owned company suggested that bonuses could be as high as $ 9 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The calculations were not completed at this time.

Bonuses are due on June 23rd.