Awards at the Société des alcools du Quebec | Targets missed and union members fired

Bonuses will be lower for Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) executives and non-union employees who did not meet all of their targets over the past year. Also, fewer checks are being distributed now that union members are no longer entitled to these kitties.

Taking these elements into account, the amount distributed to managers and non-union workers reached 6.7 million last year, down 30% from 2020-2021. Data was provided by Crown Corporation at Law on Access to Documents of Public Bodies and Protection of Personal Data.

The roughly 900 members of the Syndicat des Travailleurs de la Société des alcools du Québec (STTSAQ) — affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) — were the last to be eligible for the awards. They gave up this advantage in exchange for so-called “advances” when the collective agreement was last extended.

The union represents warehouse and delivery workers – who quit their jobs last fall before accepting the tentative agreement reached with the employer – as well as tradespeople such as janitors and cooks, their representative says.

What CUPE says it got for not paying annual bonuses: “Improved working conditions,” says Gratton.

“The starting salary is almost $23,” he explains. Insurance coverage is better. We’ve also changed some differences in treatment between newcomers and those with more seniority. »

This agreement is to the “satisfaction of both parties”, according to the SAQ.

The STTSAQ was the last union whose members were entitled to annual bonuses from the SAQ. Since 2020, the specialist and staff union has no longer benefited from this mechanism.

François Dauphin, Director General of the Institute for the Governance of Private and Public Organizations, considers this a “more logical” approach to remuneration.

“We are approaching a traditional business logic,” emphasizes the expert. Bonuses become a disguised part of wages for union members. Also consolidate them in compensation. »

Less money

At the end of a year marked primarily by price increases, SAQ generated revenue of $3.8 billion, up 7.4%, while net income was $1.4 billion, up about corresponds to 11%.

Executives, however, will see bonus levels reduced.

“The total amount is less important because certain targets related to the net cost and the reduction in the number of time-wasting accidents have not been met,” said SAQ spokeswoman Clemence Beaulieu Gendron.

The goal was to reduce the number of lost-time accidents by 7%. This indicator instead showed an increase of 3.9% over the period 2021-2022. In terms of net spending, Crown Corporation was about $25 million over target.

SAQ President and CEO Catherine Dagenais, who was entitled to total compensation of $530,000, will receive a $65,000 bonus. The five key executives of the SAQ share approximately $320,000 in awards.

The head of the state-owned company indicated in a parliamentary committee last May that the premiums for the 2021/2022 financial year would probably be around 9 million. The calculations were not yet complete at this point.

Bonuses were due June 23rd.