Publication of a Viewpoint on measures for raising productivity in the public service.

The Quebec government is currently in negotiations with the public sector unions over new collective agreements for 550,000 public employees. More than 40 years after job security was instituted in the civil service and in the health care, social service and education networks, there is good reason to look into ways of improving the productivity of government employees. With a budget coming up, and with many observers predicting tax and fee increases, taxpayers are entitled to value for their money.

Public-sector negotiations.

Supplemental pension plans provided by employers are a key fringe benefit to bear in mind when looking at overall compensation. In the private sector, pension plans have been going through a financing crisis in recent years. In the Quebec public sector, on the other hand, the government’s ability to pay is not at issue, and pension plans remain very generous. With negotiations under way between the government and the “Common Front” of public sector unions, there is reason to look into this matter and to ask if public sector pension plans are too generous compared to those in the private sector, taking account of taxpayers’ ability to pay.

Public sector negotiations.

The Quebec and Ontario governments have recently signed a trade and cooperation agreement that will take effect on October 1, 2009. The agreement is intended to facilitate trade between the two provinces, promote labour mobility, strengthen economic cooperation and work toward greater regulatory harmonization. The goal is to create wealth and jobs by improving the competitiveness of the two economies and by combining the strengths of each of them in sectors seen as strategic.

Publication of an Economic Note on trade liberalization between Quebec and Ontario.

Reform options for the union certification process in Quebec.

In votes of various types, such as elections and referendums, the secret ballot is seen as a way of guaranteeing that voters are protected from pressure or intimidation and of ensuring that the vote represents their true opinion. However, this is not the approach used in labour relations in Quebec and elsewhere: the outcome of a union certification or a strike vote may be determined by a less rigorous process that involves canvassing workers to get signatures or a show of hands in favour of a strike. This procedure may alter workers’ true will and favour labour relations disputes, putting economic growth and investment at risk. The objective of this research paper is to examine reform options for the union certification process in Quebec.

Publication of a Research Paper on reform options for the union certification process in Quebec.