(Montreal) While the strike at the Société québécoise du cannabis has now lasted for more than six months, the workers of another branch have just revoked their union certification.
It is those of the Saint-Nicolas branch who have just had their union accreditation revoked, after those of Alma, a few days ago, the management of the SQDC announced on Friday.
At the beginning of the year, several months before the start of the strike, the employees of the Granby branch had done the same.
An indefinite strike was called on May 28 in some twenty branches where the employees are members of a local section of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ.
Asked about the disaffections, the president of the local union, David Clément, said he accepted “the democratic choice to unionize or to de-unionize” expressed by the workers.
He said he believed that the “arrogant and anti-union attitude” and the “non-respect” of the employer can explain this disaffection, much more than the duration of the labor dispute.
Mr. Clément noted that even if some have revoked their union certification, “there are also many non-unionized who are closely interested in our negotiations”.
For its part, the management of the SQDC said it recognizes “fully that the choice of association or not with a union is a fundamental right and a prerogative of employees”.
She said that of her 91 branches, 48 do not have a union. And 26 have a CUPE union.
The management of the SQDC also pointed out that it had succeeded in concluding an agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement with the unions of the Federation of Public Service Employees, affiliated with the CSN.
“Moreover, all of the Society’s counsellors, with the exception of those who work in branches represented by CUPE, benefit from an hourly rate of $19.01/h on entry, and this , since July 3, 2022,” said management.
Remuneration is the main point in dispute with CUPE, since the standard clauses were settled a few months ago.
CUPE estimates that at the starting salary of $17.12 an hour, in its case, the workers’ salary is more similar to that of the retail trade than to that of a Crown corporation.