Quebec ferry workers launch 3-day strike impacting 5 routes

Navigation and engineer officers at the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) have been on strike since 6 a.m. Sunday and will continue until Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The routes impacted by the strike are Québec–Lévis, Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout, Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine, L'Isle-aux-Coudres–Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, and Sorel-Tracy–Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola.

The strike was announced last week. Workers voted in favour of a 10-day strike mandate in June 2024. After Tuesday, five days will remain. 

Picket lines are planned over the three days from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Quebec City, Matane, Tadoussac, L'Isle-aux-Coudres and Sorel-Tracy, according to a press release from the Syndicat des Métallos union which is affiliated with the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ.)

In the statement, the union says navigation and engineer officers have been without an employment contract for two years and have not had a salary increase for over three years. It adds that negotiations have stalled over issues related to wages and subcontracting. 

"STQ officers earn $10 less an hour than officers doing comparable work elsewhere in Quebec," reads the statement.

Essential services will be maintained for two routes: 

Tadoussac/Baie-Sainte-Catherine:

• From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: departure every two hours from each bank (nine crossings) — one ferry;

• From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.: departure every 30 minutes from each bank (two crossings) — one ferry;

• From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: simultaneous departures every 40 minutes from each bank (43 crossings) — two ferries.

L'Isle-aux-Coudres/Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive:

• Sunday, March 23 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.: alternate departures every hour from each bank, starting at L'Isle-aux-Coudres (16 crossings) — one ferry;
• Monday, March 24 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.: alternate departures every hour from each bank starting at L'Isle-aux-Coudres (17 crossings), with an 18th crossing from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive to L'Isle-aux-Coudres — one ferry;
• Tuesday, March 25 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.: alternate departures every hour from each bank starting at L'Isle-aux-Coudres (13 crossings) — one ferry.