(Montreal) Negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreements covering some 16,000 union members at Hydro-Québec will soon begin, in a particular context.
The negotiation committees of the six unions concerned, all local sections of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, met over the past few days to prepare for these negotiations.
The six locals represent different trades: the valuable linemen and also technologists, specialists and professionals, office workers, special constables, tradesmen and others.
“We wish the best for our members, but we are preparing for the worst,” they declared in unison during this negotiation preparation meeting.
“The mobilization of all members will be at the heart of union actions in order to prepare for these talks,” added the negotiating committees.
These negotiations will take place in a context of change in the senior management of the Crown corporation and while the Legault government wants to further develop the capacities of Hydro-Québec. In addition, the state corporation is posting record profits.
And the Quebec public has just been made aware of the importance of these employees, with the ice storm which at its peak left 1.1 million customers without electricity. The linemen were particularly in demand.
The unions concerned did not want to give an interview for the moment, since the negotiations are still in their infancy.
Contacted about the negotiation of collective agreements with its employees, the management of Hydro-Quebec had not yet commented when these lines were written.
Four of the six collective agreements will expire in December, the others later.