Latest news with #CSN
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Union representing workers in 400 daycare centres votes 58 per cent in favour tentative agreement
Workers at Centres de la petite enfance (CPE), members of the CSN-affiliated Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux, protesting during a one-day walkout, January 23, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press) Workers in 400 daycare centres (CPEs) voted 58 per cent in favour of the tentative agreement reached with Quebec for the renewal of their collective agreement. The workers are members of unions affiliated with the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS), which is affiliated with the CSN. 'It's not the collective agreement of the century,' said Stéphanie Vachon, FSSS representative for the CPE sector, in an interview. She noted that there have been improvements in 'entry-level and exit-level salaries' in the profession, but the 17.4 per cent increase over five years for all workers remains the same as for government employees. 'The government had really laid its cards on the table' with its 17.4 per cent increase for the public sector, which it insisted on, Vachon recalls. 'Then there is also the notion of the other union federations that reached an agreement before us and established a kind of basic framework. So it was really the fact that this basic framework was not broken that created a lot of discontent and dissatisfaction among workers. That's what we see in the result' of 58 per cent support, Vachon said. She added that work in CPEs is not recognized for its true value. The FSSS is the last union representing workers in CPEs to conclude its negotiations with Quebec. The three others involved in these national negotiations reached agreements last year: the Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance (FIPEQ), affiliated with the CSQ, the Syndicat québécois des employé(e)s de service (SQEES) and the Syndicat des métallos, both affiliated with the FTQ. In Quebec City, Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel welcomed the approval of this tentative agreement, which was reached on May 5. 'This step marks a breakthrough in the process of improving working conditions for educators and the quality of services offered to children and their families,' she said on X. FSSS union members had been on strike for 13 days since the end of January. Vachon said she believes it was worth striking for 13 days to achieve this result. 'Yes, absolutely. Between the start of the strike and the end, there was always something else that was holding things up,' she said. She also claims to have made gains on certain bonuses, particularly to recognize the value of experienced workers. These FSSS union members work in more than 400 CPEs. Quebec had 940 CPEs as of Dec. 31 last year, managing 1,772 facilities, according to the Ministry of Family Affairs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 2, 2025. By Lia Lévesque, The Canadian Press
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
STM maintenance workers going on strike June 9, union says
A Montreal Metro maintenance worker walks along a station platform during the early hours of the morning in Montreal, Thursday, April 11, 2019. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press) The STM maintenance workers' union has announced a strike starting on June 9, which could coincide with the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal. The duration of the strike is not yet known; the union said Thursday that it will be 'confirmed in the coming days.' This is the union's second attempt to strike at the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), after the court prevented it from going on strike as planned last week. The maintenance workers' union wanted to shut down the Metro for a day, providing no essential services for the Metro, only for buses. The Administrative Labour Tribunal refused, ruling that the provision of essential services in this case was insufficient. This time, the union affiliated with the CSN, which represents approximately 2,400 maintenance workers, has announced a strike next month. The essential services to be maintained during the strike will have to be assessed by the Administrative Labour Tribunal, which must determine whether the essential services provided would be sufficient to avoid endangering the health or safety of the public. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 29, 2025. By Lia Lévesque, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazilian steel companies' shares fall after government renews tariff system
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Stocks of Brazilian steel companies fell on Wednesday after the government said it would renew for 12 months a system meant to protect the national steel industry, but that steelmakers have said is ineffective. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The steel industry began criticizing the quota system almost as soon as it was set up last year, saying it failed to control the flow of imports, mainly from China. Under the system, as long as the import quota is not reached, steel products can enter the country if they pay import tax of between 9% and 16%. If the cap is exceeded, a 25% tariff applies, Brazilian government news outlet Agencia Brasil said. MARKET REACTION On the first day of trading following the announcement, CSN was down 4.4%, Usiminas dropped 3.6% and Gerdau fell 1.2%. Brazil's benchmark stock index Bovespa fell only 0.5%. CONTEXT The system, which has been expanded to now include 23 steel products, was already criticized by the sector for being too broad. Tuesday's government announcement retained the exclusion - also criticized by the industry - from the quota and tariff system of imports from countries that have trade agreements or negotiated special conditions with Brazil. The steel sector has urged the government to renew the scheme with the inclusion of all steel products in the 25% tariff, as the European Union and the United States have done. BY THE NUMBERS Steel imports rose 27.5% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025, reaching 2.2 million metric tons, according to data from the country's steel mills association, Aco Brasil, which did not comment on the matter on Wednesday. (By Alberto Alerigi Jr; Writing by Isabel Teles; editing by Barbara Lewis) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Brazilian steel companies' shares fall after government renews tariff system
SAO PAULO, May 28 (Reuters) - Stocks of Brazilian steel companies fell on Wednesday after the government said it would renew for 12 months a system meant to protect the national steel industry, but that steelmakers have said is ineffective. The steel industry began criticizing the quota system almost as soon as it was set up last year, saying it failed to control the flow of imports, mainly from China. Under the system, as long as the import quota is not reached, steel products can enter the country if they pay import tax of between 9% and 16%. If the cap is exceeded, a 25% tariff applies, Brazilian government news outlet Agencia Brasil said. On the first day of trading following the announcement, CSN ( opens new tab was down 4.4%, Usiminas ( opens new tab dropped 3.6% and Gerdau fell ( opens new tab 1.2%. Brazil's benchmark stock index Bovespa fell only 0.5%. The system, which has been expanded to now include 23 steel products, was already criticized by the sector for being too broad. Tuesday's government announcement retained the exclusion - also criticized by the industry - from the quota and tariff system of imports from countries that have trade agreements or negotiated special conditions with Brazil. The steel sector has urged the government to renew the scheme with the inclusion of all steel products in the 25% tariff, as the European Union and the United States have done. Steel imports rose 27.5% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025, reaching 2.2 million metric tons, according to data from the country's steel mills association, Aco Brasil, which did not comment on the matter on Wednesday.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Legal aid staff in Quebec suspend strike in favour of ‘intense negotiation blitz'
A CSN flag is raised during a strike on Thursday 1 August 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
