The general strike of 1999

>> The nurses' walkout is only one of many strikes to occur so far this year. And there are lots more on the way

by PHILIP PREVILLE

Already, 1999 has been an annus horribilis for labour unrest. In early January, the federal government's blue-collar workers (building maintenance staff, electricians, plumbers and so on) staged a series of rotating strikes, once even blockading Dorval airport to make their point, before being legislated back to work. Then Bell Canada's operators and technicians walked off the job in March, only to negotiate a settlement one month later.

Now it's the nurses' turn to make headlines with picket lines. But they certainly won't be the last: numerous public and private sector unions are in a strike position. And the strong economy, combined with the Quebec government's balanced budget, means they are more willing to strike than they have been in years.

Who's striking? What do they want? Do they deserve it? Take a look at the list below and decide for yourself.

ALREADY ON STRIKE

Quebec nurses

47,500 nurses on strike since June 28.

The demands: The Quebec Nurses' Federation wants a 10 per cent catch-up raise to bring them on par with the province's social workers, plus another 6 per cent over the next two years. Among other demands, they also want to hire more nurses and to cut back on the amount of overtime they must work.

The offer: The government says it agrees with the union on every issue except money. Quebec City is offering a 5 per cent raise over three years.

The skinny: Quebec's entry-level nurses earn just over $30,000 per year--less than any other province in Canada. The nurses have been legislated back to work, but refuse to comply. While on strike, the nurses continue to staff hospitals for "essential services" only; strangely, in many cases, essential-services staffing levels result in more nurses on the job, not less. The government is levying massive fines against the union for each day off the job; Health Minister Pauline Marois has not ruled out placing the union under trusteeship.

Hydro Québec

14,500 maintenance workers, technicians and office employees on strike since May 5.

The demands: Hydro employees, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), want a 13 per cent raise over the next two years. They took a 4.5 per cent pay cut in 1996.

The offer: Hydro Québec's most recent offer is for a 5 per cent raise over three years. They're also offering employees a "contribution holiday" from their pension plan.

The skinny: Hydro's office employees earn around $30,000 per year; maintenance workers, $40,000 per year; technicians, $45,000 per year. Their strike supposedly affects only exports and billing (which means Hydro's revenues are drying up). CUPE would not say how much Hydro's employees earn compared to other provincial energy conglomerates.

Place des Arts technicians

152 light and sound technicians on strike since June 22.

The demands: This one's complicated. Back in 1996, the techies accepted changes to their contract (i.e. minimum 6-hour shifts instead of 8-hour shifts) which management said would amount to a six per cent pay cut. Now, three years later, the techies say the changes have resulted in a 12 per cent pay cut. They want their old contract back.

The offer: Place des Arts has no intention of changing the contract. The techies are being offered a 5 per cent raise over three years.

The skinny: The technicians' average pay is $18.50 per hour, and they work on a freelance basis (they come only when called). PdA management insists they are already the best-paid roadies in Quebec. The techies say their colleagues at the neighbouring Museum of Contemporary Art get $20.80 per hour. As a result of their walkout, PdA management had to do most of the light and sound setup for the Jazz Festival's outdoor stages, and shows scheduled for PdA's indoor theatres have been moved elsewhere.

HEADED FOR A STRIKE

Air Canada flight attendants

5,100 air hosts and hostesses, in a legal strike position since July 7.

The demands: The flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), want a 12 per cent wage increase over three years. They also want improvements to the pension plan, totalling between $4,500 and $6,500 per year for each employee.

The offer: Air Canada has agreed to the wage increase, but says the pension improvements are too expensive. Instead, they've offered employees a lump sum payment of $10,000 to $12,000 each.

The skinny: Most flight attendants earn the maximum salary of $38,500 per year (they work 75 hours a month); when they retire, they receive a pension of around $21,000 annually. The union rejected Air Canada's most recent offer on Monday. Air Canada is already preparing to ground its planes in the event of a strike. Montrealers wishing to escape tourist season here by flying somewhere else may find themselves trapped. Last fall, Air Canada's pilots walked off the job for 13 days.

Hotel chambermaids, maintenance workers and kitchen staff

Approximately 4,500 employees from the Bonaventure, Wyndham, Queen Elizabeth and other Montreal hotels, in a legal strike position since July 2.

The demands: The hotel workers, seeking to cash in on the lucrative tourism industry, want a 15 per cent wage increase over three years. They also want the hotels to ante up more to the employee RRSP, and they want a 15 per cent tip added automatically to all guests' bills.

The offer: Their union (the CNTU) is currently waiting for each hotel to submit preliminary offers.

The skinny: The chambermaids, the largest group of employees, earn around $26,000 per year ($12.80 per hour full-time). By next week, union officials say they will be in a better position to judge the offers and decide if a strike can be averted. Local tourism may be thrown into a tizzy.

Quebec civil servants, teachers, school and hospital support staff, ambulance technicians and virtually everyone else on the government payroll

Over 400,000 employees represented by various unions, without a contract since June 30, 1998.

The demands: Varies by group. For example: teachers and support staffers want an 11 per cent raise over three years; civil servants want 16 per cent over three years.

The offer: The same as the nurses--5 per cent over three years.

The skinny: Unions representing the teachers, support staffers and civil servants say they all have the same average salary: $28,000 per year. Most unions will vote on a strike mandate in late August, and will be in a legal strike position by October at the latest. Schools will close, bedpans won't get cleaned, drivers' license offices will be shut down. These employees are watching the nurses' battle closely; if the nurses get Quebec City to cough up more than 5 per cent over three years, they will likely strike for their booty as well.