SAQ Employees Vote for Potential Strike Amid Stalled Negotiations

A significant labor action may be on the horizon for the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) as its technical and professional employees have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a potential strike. In a recent press release from the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), approximately 500 members of the Syndicat du personnel technique et professionnel de la SAQ (SPTP-SAQ-CSN) indicated their support for a 15-day strike mandate, with an impressive 99% voting in favor. This decision comes amid ongoing negotiations for a new collective agreement, which has seen limited progress.

The employees represented by the SPTP-SAQ-CSN play crucial roles within the organization, overseeing areas such as SAQ.com, IT systems, warehouse operations, payroll, product quality, and communications. These functions are essential to the smooth operation of the Crown corporation. Their previous collective agreement expired on March 31, 2025.

Union representatives have voiced concerns regarding recent wage increases, stating that they have not kept pace with inflation. Members are advocating for a salary adjustment and the inclusion of teleworking rights in any new agreement. According to union officials, the current offers from SAQ management would effectively diminish employees’ purchasing power during a time of rising living costs.

“We were very patient before arriving at this strike mandate,” stated Steve D’Agostino, president of the SPTP-SAQ-CSN. “We remain hopeful we can reach an agreement and avoid a strike. The SAQ will have to do its part.”

In 2021, nearly 800 SAQ employees engaged in a strike over warehouse and delivery roles, leading to supply chain disruptions and empty shelves at retail locations. If a strike occurs this time, it would mark a significant moment as it would be the first in the union’s five-decade history.

Union representatives have expressed that the message to SAQ management is clear: the work performed by these employees is vital and merits appropriate recognition. The vote for a strike comes on the heels of a recent two-week strike by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), which resulted in extensive transit disruptions across Montreal.

While the SPTP-SAQ-CSN has not yet announced a specific date for when employees might walk off the job, they have warned that any work stoppage would lead to “immediate impacts” in the SAQ’s warehouses and stores. The situation continues to develop as both parties seek a resolution.