(Montreal) An eleventh-hour mediation session held this Sunday did not make it possible to avoid a labor dispute at Videotron in Gatineau, while the two parties did not reach an agreement.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced Sunday evening in a press release that the lockout decreed by Videotron a few days ago will indeed take place as of 5 a.m. Monday.
“There are 214 workers who will find themselves unable to earn their living within the company of businessman Pierre Karl Péladeau, who is the majority shareholder of the telecommunications company,” said the union argues, adding that locked-out workers will demonstrate in front of the company’s offices.
Videotron Gatineau employees have been without an employment contract since August 31, 2020. “Negotiations for its renewal have been at an impasse for months,” argued the union.
The unsettling issues mainly concern the relocation of jobs abroad and the subcontracting of other jobs.
On October 18, members of the Videotron Employees’ Union rejected the employer’s final offer in a proportion of 74%. On October 27, Videotron filed a lockout notice.
The management of the telecommunications company claims to have no other choice but to resort more to subcontracting, since 350 positions in its call centers are vacant, despite its recruitment efforts.
“Videotron must find alternative solutions in order to continue to provide its customers with the best customer service in the industry. It is important to specify that the company is also committed not to make any layoffs in jobs where it uses subcontracting,” she said.
Management claims to offer a 14.5% increase over seven years, in addition to lump sums equivalent to 3% of salary.
“Adding the 4% per year of salary progression to which more than 70% of employees are eligible, this represented increases of 45.5% over a period of seven years,” the company argued in a press release announcing the lockout, Friday.
with information from Lia Lévesque, The Canadian Press