The Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec Says Labor Shortage Threatens Access to Justice

The Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec Says Labor Shortage Threatens Access to Justice

The Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) says labor shortages could threaten access to justice in courthouses. According to the SFPQ, this due to the lack of personnel that continue to accumulate and are denounced by stakeholders in the judicial field, including the judiciary.

“In our region, the lack of personnel is bringing us to a breaking point. Mainly in the criminal and penal, civil and youth registry sectors. It’s nonsense, it can’t go on like this, because there are delays in the files,” laments the regional president of the SFPQ, Michel Girard (Translated).

These impacts on the services offered to the population in the judicial system are directly related to the difficulties for the State to attract and retain experienced personnel in the public service, says the SFPQ.

“By ignoring the essential work of administrative staff in courthouses, the government is reaping what it has sown. Salaries are not very attractive and succession is difficult because the government does not offer any incentives. However, all employers in Quebec are currently doing their utmost to attract and retain the personnel necessary for their activities. All, except the Quebec public service which seems to think that it exists outside the constraints of the job market. We have been reaching out to the CAQ government for more than two years to find concrete solutions to improve working conditions. Faced with a labor market driven by labor shortages, the Government of Quebec is no longer able to compete with many employers, including the municipal and federal sectors, who offer higher wages for similar tasks”, concludes the union spokesperson (Translated).