The store and office workers union of the Société des Alcohols du Québec, which represents about 5,000 workers in the SAQ, began its two-day strike on Wednesday.
At midnight, the union confirmed on its Facebook page that it was officially going on strike on Wednesday because of insufficient progress at the bargaining table.
The strike will continue on Thursday if there is no significant progress.
These two strike days will be used first as per the 15-day strike mandate given to the union members.
Among the main points of contention, we note the inclusion of permanent positions, access to insurance and access to training.
The question of salaries has not yet been resolved, reported the union affiliated to the Federation of Public Service Employees, which is affiliated with CSN.
For its part, SAQ management earlier this week indicated that it would put a business continuity plan in place in the event of a strike, to provide limited access to its branch network.
On Wednesday, several mobilizations will be held to mark the strike, notably in Montreal, Quebec, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Gatineau, Rouen-Noranda and Saint-Thérèse.
Union representatives will meet the media late this morning at the Place des Festivals de Montreal.
During a visit to the National Assembly on Tuesday to study the allocations of the Ministry of Finance, part of the SAQ, the President and CEO of the SAQ, Jacques Farcy, said he was confident of reaching an agreement with the union members.
“Negotiations are very active, there is real progress at the table, so that gives us confidence that we will reach an agreement,” Mr Farsi said.
However, Mr. Farsi pointed out that in the context of a labor dispute, the SAQ aims to open as many branches as possible, but only officers will work on the floor.
