More than 420,000 public sector workers began a seven-day strike today, Friday, in the latest campaign by the Quebec government to increase their salaries and improve working conditions.

If no agreement is reached this month, union leaders said on Friday that they might organize an unlimited general strike, which would keep public sector workers off the job indefinitely.

Union workers are members of the Front commun, a coalition of unions fighting for a new collective agreement with the government.

Public frontline workers, who work in the public sector including healthcare and education, joined teachers from the Independent Federation of Education (FAE) who started an unlimited strike on November 23.

The Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) strike also led to the closure of many French-language schools across the province. The Front commun strike also closed all public schools. It is expected to continue until midnight on December 14.

A group of Front commun members gathered in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City on Friday morning.

There, while public sector workers carried signs, honked horns, and chanted, the leaders of the major unions forming the Front commun told journalists they were ready to begin an unlimited general strike if an agreement with the government was not reached by December 18, two days after meetings since then.

Robert Como, president of the Alliance of Professional Employees and Technicians of Health and Social Services (APTS), also said this would be the perfect day to present a preliminary agreement. He added, "If not, we have no choice but to review the situation with our members and see no other solution than an unlimited general strike."

Sonia LeBel, Quebec's Treasury Board president, said negotiations are intensifying with the unions. She added, "We are at a critical moment because it seems everyone is on the same page, and they have a united front, in the desire to reach an agreement before the end of the year."

In Montreal, Front commun members marched through downtown streets and gathered outside healthcare facilities.

Also earlier this week, the Front commun rejected the latest contract offer from the government, which included a 12.7 percent salary increase over the next five years.