Latest news with #SFPQ
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec campsites may be closed due to strike over long weekend
Parc de la Chute-Montmorency near Quebec City may be affected by a strike of SEPAQ unionized workers. (Wiki Commons) Negotiations continue between unionized park workers and Quebec provincial park management to avoid a strike over the Fête Nationale long weekend. On Thursday, the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SEPAQ) asked reservation holders not to cancel their stays, adding it will contact them with any updates. SEPAQ confirmed it has received a fixed-term strike notice from its workers that would go into effect from Friday until Tuesday, should the parties fail to reach an agreement. The strike would affect the following: Quebec national parks Aquarium du Québec Parc de la Chute-Montmorency Gîte du Mont Albert Auberge de montagne des Chic-Chocs Camping des Voltigeurs Centre touristique du Lac-Simon Centre touristique du Lac-Kénogami Wildlife reserves, as well as other SEPAQ parks and the customer relations centre, are not affected by the strike. 'Discussions are ongoing with the union, and SEPAQ is hopeful that a satisfactory agreement for all parties can be reached before a walkout occurs,' the agency said in a news release. 'SEPAQ will continue to make every effort to reach a settlement before this deadline in order to maintain stays and bookings.' The union announced the strike, with disputes mainly centred around wages. Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) President Christian Daigle pointed out that many workers earn about $17 per hour, and the vast majority of them are seasonal workers. The union says it wants a 17.4 per cent wage increase over five years, the same as all government employees. 'This has a major impact on the people we represent. When you only work four or five months a year, missing five days of work is a serious financial hit,' he said. 'It's not something they do lightly, but people are tired of being taken advantage of and not being offered a fair financial agreement by their employer and, especially, by the Quebec government.' If a strike occurs, the establishments affected will be closed, and bookings will be cancelled and refunded. However, SEPAQ said it will continue to offer the following activities: Seasonal campsites. Fishing stays at the Devlin cabins and Lac à l'Épaule lodge in Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier. Day fishing at Archambault, À l'Épaule, Lapointe, Nouvel and Ruban lakes, as well as at Rivière Sautauriski in Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier. As for certain activities offered by park partners, SEPAQ recommends checking directly with them to find out whether or not their activities will take place in event of a walkout. Bookings can be modified or cancelled here.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec provincial parks, employees reach agreement in principle
Quebec's provincial parks management says it has reached an agreement with its workers, lifting a strike notice that was set to begin on Friday. 'All establishments in the network will remain open for the long weekend of the national holiday and reservations will be honoured,' the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SEPAQ) wrote on its website. The main dispute between the two centred around wages, according to the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ). President Christian Daigle had previously pointed out that many workers earn about $17 per hour, and the vast majority are seasonal employees. The union had asked for a 17.4 per cent wage increase over five years, the same as all government employees.
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Five more days of strikes planned at SÉPAQ between June 20 and 24
The Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) has announced five more strike days later this month at several sites operated by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ). The strike will take place from June 20 to 24, the union said Friday. While wildlife reserves were affected during previous strike days in mid-May, this time will be different: most SÉPAQ establishments will be impacted. 'All bargaining units will be affected, except for the wildlife reserves and one lodge. So that means campgrounds, parks, the Montmorency Manor, the Chic-Chocs mountain lodge, and all tourist centres will be impacted,' said SFPQ president Christian Daigle. The dispute centres mainly on wages. Daigle said many workers earn about $17 an hour and noted that the vast majority are seasonal employees. The union is calling for a 17.4 per cent wage increase over five years—the same deal that was granted to all government employees. 'This has a major impact on the people we represent. When you only work four or five months a year, missing five days of work is a serious financial hit. So it's not something they do lightly—but people are tired of being taken advantage of and not being offered a fair financial agreement by their employer and, especially, by the Quebec government,' Daigle said. SÉPAQ responds 'The union has the right to strike and is free to choose its timing,' said Simon Boivin, SÉPAQ's media relations officer. He said SÉPAQ submitted 'a third monetary offer' last Tuesday and remains open to negotiating daily to preserve the long weekend for Quebecers. The strike days coincide with Quebec's Fête nationale holiday. 'We want to improve employees' wages with a competitive offer for the tourism industry—one that takes into account the pension plan and other benefits. We're aiming for a balanced agreement that satisfies employees, respects the organization's ability to pay, and doesn't shift extra costs onto visitors. It's worth remembering that 85 per cent of SÉPAQ's revenue comes from its own activities and customer services,' Boivin added. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 6, 2025.
