Revenu Québec workers to go on strike tonight

A Revenu Quebec sign is seen in Montreal, Monday, May 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

A Revenu Québec workers strike will begin a minute after midnight on Friday night.

It is an evening and weekend strike, which also means that the workers will be limited to working from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday.

There are 5,850 members of the Syndicat des professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ) -- a large union independent of the central offices.

They work in investigations, taxation, support for businesses and individuals and IT, for example.

SPGQ president Guillaume Bouvrette explained that although this is an evening and weekend strike, it could have repercussions in several respects.

He noted, for example, that computer updates and systems maintenance often take place outside office hours, so as not to interfere with daily operations. He also gave the example of employee road trips, which often take place outside office hours. Similarly, checks in bars and restaurants may take place in the evening.

The dispute mainly concerns wages and pay equity clauses, also known as trailer clauses.

Revenu Québec management declined to comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 17, 2025.