ISQ Report Discovers Increasing Wage Gap Between Québec Public Service Workers and The Private Sector

Between 2019 and 2020, ISQ reported the gap in overall compensation rose over three percent from 6.1% to 9.2%, to the detriment of public service employees. (Photo: SHVETS production / Pexels)

In November 2020, the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) Rémunération des salariés – État et évolution comparés figures show a dangerous increase in the wage gap between workers employed in the Québec public service and Québec employees in the private sector.

The ISQ compares a yearly salary and total compensation of Québec government employees with employees working in businesses with 200 or more employees in Québec.

Between 2019 and 2020, ISQ reported the gap in overall compensation rose over three percent from 6.1% to 9.2%, to the detriment of public service employees. The timeline is also the final year of Quebec’s healthcare workers’ 2016-2020 national collective contract, which included a pay rate freeze for 2019.

Did the ISQ consider the hundreds of dollars in annual parking fees, union dues, along with thousands of dollars in insurance premiums paid by healthcare workers?

Montreal General Hospital CSN union representative Kathleen De Melo

However, according to the ISQ report, when total compensation includes salaries, non-wage benefits, and hours at work, Québec government employees are on par with the private sector regarding total compensation. 

According to Montreal General Hospital CSN union representative Kathleen De Melo, the extras are appreciated, but the perks don’t add purchasing power. “The extras don’t help to pay the rent or put food on the table,” said De Melo. 

This past June, the majority of Quebec’s public workers union Centrals in the health and social services and child care network, agreed in principle with the government to a 2% pay rate increase for 2020.

Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) president Andrée Poirier commented on the organization’s website,. “It’s revolting,” says Poirier. “Year after year, the government has been knowingly acting in a way that has made our members poorer.”

“The extras are nice, but did the ISQ consider the hundreds of dollars in annual parking fees, union dues, along with thousands of dollars in insurance premiums paid by healthcare workers,” added De Melo.