The Legault government is offering an additional salary increase to state employees earning less than $52,000, in the hope of quickly closing negotiations with the public sector.
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The President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, made the announcement Monday morning in a press release.
This new offer is a response to a concern of the unions, which have been hammering since December that the government offer “does not protect the purchasing power” of their members in a context of inflation.
Quebec, however, did not specify the content of this salary increase, which is in addition to the initial offer to increase the remuneration of 600,000 state employees by 9% over five years.
Staff turnover
The new government offer also contains measures aimed at countering the high staff turnover in the public service.
Thus, in addition to employees earning less than $52,000 per year, technicians and professionals at the start of their careers would also see their salaries increase.
This salary increase would finally affect psychologists, whom the government hopes to attract to the public network.
New program
In addition, the new offer from Quebec provides for a “5-year voluntary retention program” which would allow an increase in the retirement pension as well as a reduction in contributions for “experienced” employees who would continue to work full time.
Sonia LeBel also announced that the bonuses paid to nursing staff, which were to end next Thursday, will be extended until June.
“It is urgent to act, because summer is a critical period in the health network and we want to be ready for the start of the 2023 school year. These improved offers are a clear signal to the unions that we can and want to settle the as quickly as possible in order to take action,” said the Minister.
