Union members at the Hilton Hotel in Laval have ratified the agreement in principle reached with the employer to renew their collective agreement, by a vote of 89%.
This settlement is the first to occur within the framework of the coordinated negotiations being conducted by the Fédération du commerce, affiliated with the CSN, in a potential of 30 hotels in the regions of Montreal, Quebec, Saguenay and Estrie.
The federation now hopes to export this regulation to other hotels, even if they are different employers.
“This agreement paves the way for the 29 other unions that are part of the coordinated negotiation, and therefore gains have been made on our seven negotiation priorities,” commented Michel Valiquette, treasurer and representative of the sector at the Fédération du commerce, in an interview.
The agreement provides for a 10% salary increase for the first year, then 3% for the second, 3% for the third and 5% for the fourth year, Mr. Valiquette said.
It also includes improvements to vacation time, namely a third week after two years of service and a seventh week after 30 years.
It also provides for an increase in the employer’s contribution to group insurance, as well as other clauses affecting training, personnel agencies, workload and tips, added Mr. Valiquette.
“I think they understood that it is not an expense to provide good working conditions to our workers, but rather an investment. There was also mobilization; there were strike days that were also held in this matter,” noted Mr. Valiquette to explain the conclusion of the agreement.
The union members at the Hilton in Laval had walked out at the same time as several of their colleagues from other hotels, on August 8 and 30, during a common day. They had also walked out on three other days, he said.