MONTREAL, July 4, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The 26 Montreal West blue-collar workers, who have been without a labour contract since December 2015, are beginning to lose patience over the negotiations for the renewal of their collective agreement.

The employees, represented by the Montreal Blue Collar Union (CUPE 301), have been confronted with the patent bad faith of the City's representatives at the bargaining table. The main issues of contention are seniority and the participation of temporary employees in the pension plan and benefits provided for in the collective agreement.

The union has demonstrated that some of its demands are zero-cost to Montreal West taxpayers.  Furthermore, they are comparable to those obtained by blue-collar workers in the other demerged cities on the Island of Montreal.

On April 12, faced with the impasse with the employer, the union voted 95% to apply pressure tactics up to a general strike. In the coming weeks, the blue-collar workers plan to make themselves heard and seen in Montreal West.

"We will take steps to ensure that the public knows what is going on in these negotiations. The union is open to dialogue, but the systematic obstruction by the City's representatives is preventing negotiations from moving forward," said union representative Stéphane Paré.

With nearly 116,000 members in Quebec, CUPE represents about 70% of the province's municipal employees, or 32,240 members. CUPE is also active in the following sectors: social affairs, communications, education, universities, energy, Quebec government corporations and public agencies, air and land transportation, the mixed sector, and the maritime sector. It is the largest union affiliated with the FTQ.

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (FTQ)

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