Mediator steps in as 300 provincial park employees walk off the job
A mediator is wading into the labour dispute between Quebec provincial park workers and park management, in an effort to help the two sides reach an agreement before an unlimited strike is set to start Saturday.
About 300 employees of the park network, known as SEPAQ, walked off the job at four of the province's parks and at SEPAQ's head office Wednesday, after management rejected a counter-offer from the union Tuesday.
Unless there's a settlement by the end of the week, the remaining unionized members — about 1,500 workers in all — will join them on the picket line just in time for the busiest two weeks of the season, as Quebec's construction holiday begins Saturday.
"There is a mediator coming in, so there is still a chance that we can achieve something — that we can get things done before this weekend," said Frédérick Dagenais, the president of the union local for the Estrie-Mauricie region, which represents 16 striking workers at the Voltigeurs campsite near Drummondville.
"We're hopeful," he said.
The parks affected by the walkout on Wednesday are:
Montmorency Falls.
Lac-Simon tourist centre.
Lac-Kénogami tourist centre.
Voltigeurs camping site.
Parks to remain open
SEPAQ management said all of the parks will stay open, but there will be a reduction in services, including food services, water sport equipment rental, beach supervision and guided activities. The washrooms may also be cleaned less often.
Union president Christian Daigle said keeping the parks open during the strike may not work.
"It's impossible to maintain all the services," Daigle said.
"A boss won't be able to do what 60 employees do at the same time."
Simon Boivin, a spokesperson for SEPAQ, said managers will continue operations without violating the labour code.
"We will try to limit as much as possible the negative impacts," he told the CBC Tuesday.
Boivin said SEPAQ may compensate campers if a strike ruins their vacation.
Wage increase is chief demand
The union is seeking an increase in wages, which it says now vary between $13 and $14 per hour. Most of the park's employees are seasonal workers.
The union says employees at some parks are paid more than those at other parks for doing the same job, and it's asking for those discrepancies to be removed, as well.
Boivin said the parks agency doesn't have the means to meet the wage increase.
If the employees do go on strike Saturday, 23 provincial parks will be affected:
Parc national d'Aiguebelle.
Parc national du Bic.
Parc national Frontenac.
Parc national de la Gaspésie.
Parc national des Grands-Jardins.
Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé.
Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville.
Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier.
Parc national Miguasha.
Parc national du Mont-Mégantic.
Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie.
Parc national d'Anticosti.
Parc national de Plaisance.
Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata.
Parc national d'Opémican.
Parc national du Mont-Orford.
Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno.
Parc national du Mont-Tremblant.
Parc national des Monts-Valin.
Parc national d'Oka.
Parc national de la Pointe-Taillon.
Parc national du Saguenay.
Parc national de la Yamaska.
Gîte du Mont-Albert.
