(Montreal) The strike affecting some twenty branches of the Société québécoise du cannabis is now in its eighth month. And negotiations are at a standstill, reports the union representing the striking employees.
The local section of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, called a general and indefinite strike on May 28, after holding a strike for several days.
In an interview on Friday, the president of the union, David Clément, indicated that he had not received any new offer since the one that his members had rejected in a proportion of 94%, on December 11.
The parties had nevertheless met on December 23 to discuss the causes of this rejection.
Salary is the main point in dispute. CUPE is asking for at least $20 an hour for its members. He argues that the SQDC is a Crown corporation and not a retail business like any other.
The SQDC argues that it succeeded in reaching an agreement with another union organization, the Federation of Public Service Employees, affiliated with the CSN. But CUPE members rejected the offer, which CSN union members accepted.