Public sector strikes are escalating again this week, with 80,000 nurses and health professionals now joining the hundreds of thousands already on strike.

The largest nurses' union in Quebec, Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), has started a four-day strike while continuing to negotiate a new contract with the province.

The nurses joined the Front commun, or Common Front in French, and the teachers' union Fédération autonome de l'enseignement on the picket lines. Roberto Pomba, FIQ spokesperson, believes the people of Quebec understand the need for the strike and will stand with the nurses.

He told Daybreak: Our nurses have better things to do than to stay outside in the cold.

The government has pushed us to this point.

Even if FIQ members are on strike, they must maintain essential services, as Pomba said this means health care services will slow down but emergency rooms will not be affected.

FIQ submitted a counteroffer to the Quebec government on Friday. Pomba said salaries are a major issue, but the nurses want better working conditions. The Quebec government asked the nurses to be flexible.

Also in a statement, FIQ told CBC that it was asking for a 24 percent increase over three years, but is now asking for 20 percent – a 14 percent increase over four years plus a 6 percent increase for 2022.

Quebec has the lowest salary in Canada for nurses with a university degree, according to collective agreement comparison data from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

Pomba said FIQ members walked off their jobs for two days in early November, and say an unlimited general strike like the FAE strike is on the table if no agreement is reached by Christmas.

He also added that no one wants to reach Christmas sitting at the negotiating table.

Similarly, FIQ president Julie Bouchard said the government has been slow to negotiate, and there are about 15 points still needing discussion. She said talks on working conditions such as staffing ratios are not progressing.

She also told Radio Canada: "I have the impression that there is no urgency from the government regarding these negotiations which are extremely important to us and to the public."