Ferry strike to continue through July 15

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

There will be no service on the Quebec City-Lévis ferry until the morning of July 15 due to a strike, the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) and the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) announced last week. Normal service will resume on July 15 at 6 a.m.

The striking union, the Syndicat des employés de la Société des Traversiers Québec-Lévis (CSN), represents about 100 sailors, dockworkers, ticket salespeople, maintenance workshop staff and welders, spokesperson Patrick Saint-Laurent explained.

Saint-Laurent said pay increases for ferry staff have not kept pace with increases for other public sector workers over the last decade, and accused the STQ of dragging its feet over the course of the ongoing negotiations, and of withdrawing concessions made in previous proposals. “We have been negotiating for a year and a half, things are moving forward very slowly, and the STQ does not want to give us its monetary offer,” he said.

Saint-Laurent said union members have voted themselves the option of an unlimited general strike, but they don’t want to use that option. “We want a good offer and we want to get back to work quickly.”

“The organization respects the use of the right to strike, but finds it unfortunate that employees are announcing this means of pressure at this time since negotiations are underway,” STQ spokesperson Catherine W. Audet told Radio-Canada.