The union, which represents about 400 employees of the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ), confirmed that the organization's activities will stop starting Monday due to a three-day strike by working members in Quebec and Montreal.

Among them are scientific advisors, information staff, computer analysts, nursing advisors, and others.

A strike notice was also sent more than a week ago to INSPQ by the Public Health Professionals Union of Quebec (SPPSPQ), affiliated with the central labor unions (CSQ).

The first day of the strike will be marked by a demonstration held from 11:00 a.m. in front of the National Assembly in Quebec around 1:00 p.m., where protesters will head toward the Treasury Board offices in Quebec. Additionally, pickets will be set up in front of the INSPQ offices located on Wolfe Street.

As for Montreal, there will be a demonstration from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in front of the INSPQ offices located on Crémazie Boulevard East.

The main point of dispute is wages, since the collective agreement expired on March 31, 2020, and workers have not received a salary increase since then. The union had postponed negotiating the renewal of the collective agreement due to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Also, the union president, Étienne Pigeon, said that members' salaries are at least 15% lower than those of their colleagues at the National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) for similar jobs, despite both institutes being funded by the Treasury Board.