Ambulance workers' strike: Quebec and the CSN cannot agree on concessions
Intensive negotiations in July over the paramedic strike have stalled. The parties cannot agree on what concessions paramedics must make in order to obtain a better wage increase than what Quebec is currently offering.
According to Jean Gagnon, representative of the pre-hospital sector at the FSSS-CSN, further months of strike action are to be expected.
It should be noted that essential services to the public are being maintained, with the strike by some 3,300 paramedics who are members of unions affiliated with the CSN mainly taking the form of administrative pressure tactics.
Quebec has already said it is prepared to agree to a 17.4 per cent wage increase over five years, as proposed by the union, in exchange for concessions for paramedics, who have been without a collective agreement since March 31, 2023.
The CSN says it is willing to accept concessions, but it does not seem to agree with Quebec on what those concessions should be.
'We tried to hold a three-week 'blitz' of negotiations in July to reach a settlement, but it is clear that the parties were unable to do so. In other words, the people representing us at the negotiating table do not have the mandate to reach a tentative agreement that we can present to our members,' said Gagnon.
He said negotiations will resume on September 5 and that 'there are still many issues to be clarified.'
He hopes that those at the negotiating table will then have the necessary mandates to reach a tentative agreement.
Paramedics plan to increase their visibility in the coming weeks.
'We will make sure we are heard until we get a settlement,' said Gagnon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 4, 2025.
The Canadian Press' health content is funded through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for editorial decisions.
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