MONTREAL - Quebec is bracing for an intense season of union negotiations.
Louis Roy, who took the helm of the CSN labour union in mid-May, considers it the biggest set of negotiations his union has overseen in many years.
He says the upcoming negotiations will see about 100 negotiations take place, much larger than say 2009-2010 when the union attempted to forge about 20 collective agreements.
Upcoming negotiations involve workers at Couche-Tard, many hotels, Tele-Quebec, Bombardier and Alcan.
Corrections agents, several university staff, public transport workers and old age homes will also try their luck at getting raises.
The CSN plans to keep opposing university tuition hikes. It argues that business should spend more to fund universities.
Roy says the CSN is also keeping a close eye on $2 billion cuts in federal program spending. The CSN worries of a decrease in services offered by the Conservative government.
Rumours of an upcoming provincial election persist and Roy believes that the Northern Plan could become a major issue in the campaign.
The CSN has been asking for a global industrial development plan for the entire province.
It also plans to keep pushing for a public inquiry into the construction industry.
Roy, who worked with new executive members all summer, will meet other union members prior to getting the year off on the right foot.
The Confederation des Syndicats Nationaux is a decentralized trade union launched in 1921. It represents 300,000 Quebec workers and unlike many other unions it takes positions on many political issues, including Quebec sovereignty, which it actively supports.
With files from The Canadian Press
