C O L L E C T I V E  A G R E E M E N T  2023-2028 >>>

ISQ report on employee compensation in 2024: comparative status and trends | Front commun agreement has reduced the compensation gap

November 28, 2024

ISQ report on employee compensation in 2024: comparative status and trends | Front commun agreement has reduced the compensation gap - APTS

Montréal – Data released by Québec’s Institut de la statistique (ISQ) confirm that the settlement reached between the Front commun and the government has reduced both the wage gap and the total compensation gap between workers in Québec public services and other Québec workers.

“Thanks to the struggle of 420,000 Front commun workers, there’s been an overall reduction in the compensation gap, even though ISQ comparisons are based on other agreements reached in other sectors,” said CSN first vice-president François Enault, CSQ president Éric Gingras, FTQ president Magali Picard and APTS president Robert Comeau, speaking on behalf of the Front commun. “This is a step in the right direction. But we still have a long way to go!”

“As we said back then, the collective agreement isn’t perfect, but it does provide a solid basis for initiating a catch-up process with other sectors,” added the spokespersons. “When compensation gaps are reduced, that helps make our institutions more attractive. But we still need to retain employees. Our members have made it clear that there is a lot of work to be done to improve conditions of work and practice in our public systems. We’ve got to keep on fighting, and we don’t have to wait for the next collective agreement to do that. One thing is certain – hiring freezes, and failing to renew temporary contracts, won’t be helping employees get back on their feet.”

In terms of total compensation (which includes wages, non-wage benefits for a normal work week, and leave), workers in Québec public services are lagging behind other Québec workers by 2.1%. As for the wage gap, it now stands at 11.4%, compared to 16.6% in 2023.

The ISQ study also indirectly demonstrates that the government is finding it difficult to retain experienced employees. When rates of progression are compared, it becomes apparent that the largest group of public sector workers is found at lower levels of the salary scales, indicating that they are less experienced than workers in other sectors. 

ISQ figures, which cover all Québec workers, show that workers in public services are lagging behind those in the municipal sector (28.2%), public corporations (11.9%) and the federal public service (12.2%). The gap has become smaller for workers in skilled trades such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers, dropping from 32.6% to 24.4%.

At a glance

•       Wage lag compared with other Québec workers: 11.4%

•       Total compensation lag compared with other Québec workers: 2.1%

•       Percentage of workers represented by the Front commun who are women: 78%

The Front commun collective agreement provided a 6% pay increase retroactive to April 1, 2023, and a 2.8% increase in 2024. The agreement’s final three years will involve an 8.6% raise, supplemented by a clause protecting employees’ purchasing power that may provide up to 1% more for each year. 

The Front commun

Together, the CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS represent over 420,000 public-sector workers who are employed by the Québec government in schools, health and social services, and higher education.