After a month-long strike, government engineers have decided to return to work for at least a week, hoping to advance ongoing negotiations with state officials, Le Journal learned.
• Read also: Engineers’ strike: Bitume Quebec is concerned about the persistence of the conflict
• Read also: LeBel urges the engineers’ union to negotiate
Reached by our Parliamentary Office, the president of the Professional Association of Government Engineers of Quebec (APIGQ), Marc-André Martin, confirmed that its 1,800 members have decided to suspend their indefinite general strike which began on April 22.
“She is suspended until June 1. We want to give the negotiation a chance,” explained Mr. Martin.
About ten days ago, the President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, criticized the engineers’ union for having, for all intents and purposes, left the negotiating table, when the government had just presented them with a substantial offer. . Ms. LeBel notably warned that road works could be delayed if the conflict continues.
Since then, the game of offers and counter-offers has resumed, without however allowing the parties to agree.
Does the suspension of the strike for a week mean that a settlement is at hand? “We are very, very far from an agreement,” said Mr. Martin, who would not be surprised if his members went back on strike on June 1.
“We take note of the suspension of the strike. We are continuing the discussions at the tables and reiterate that we want to reach an agreement quickly , commented the press secretary of Ms. LeBel, Florence Plourde.
1
