Quebec liquor board technical, professional staff vote in favour of strike mandate

The SAQ outlet on St. Laurent Blvd. at Ave. des Pins. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

Office, technical and professional staff at the Quebec’s liquor board, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), have voted in favour of a strike mandate, having been without a collective agreement since March.

The approximately 500 employees of the Crown corporation, represented by the Syndicat du personnel technique et professionnel de la SAQ (SPTP-SAQ-CSN), have secured a bank of 15 strike days to be used at the appropriate time.

According to the union, 99 per cent voted in favour of the strike at a general meeting on Tuesday.

SPTP-SAQ-CSN President Steve D’Agostino said that he had been “very patient” before reaching this point.

He remains hopeful that the union and the SAQ will reach an agreement to avoid a strike.

The launch of a possible strike would be a first in the union’s more than 50 years of existence.

The SAQ’s office, technical and professional staff are responsible for the operation of the SAQ.com website, store supply, quality control and payroll.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 8, 2025.