Plusieurs centaines de personnes se sont rassemblées samedi dans le cadre de la grève des chauffeurs d’autobus de la Société de transport de Laval (STL). Aucun autobus ne circulait dans la municipalité, après une journée où l’offre de service a été réduite.
Les manifestants brandissaient des drapeaux blancs à l’effigie de leur syndicat au son des trompettes. Le rassemblement s’est amorcé au Terminus Montmorency, puis les manifestants ont marché jusqu’au Terminus Le Carrefour.
Plusieurs enjeux expliquent le conflit qui divise actuellement la STL et le syndicat des chauffeurs d’autobus, dont les circuits d’autobus lorsque la demande n’est pas suffisante, les horaires et les salaires des employés.
« En ce moment, ce que l’employeur nous propose, ça va seulement appauvrir nos employés. Ils ne tiennent aucunement compte de ce qu’on vit en ce moment […] of the cost of living which is constantly increasing, ”denounces Patrick Lafleur, president Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 5959, of Laval bus drivers.
“We offered to negotiate with them yesterday and last night in order to avoid today’s strike, but they preferred to wait for the mediator. [lors] of our meeting scheduled for next Monday, ”continued Mr. Lafleur, in an interview with La Presse.
The STL, for its part, deplores that it has already renewed the collective agreement for office and maintenance employees in a “difficult financial context”. The “global offer filed with the Union is fair and comparable to them,” the STL said in a press release.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Several issues explain the conflict that currently divides the STL and the bus drivers’ union, including bus routes when demand is not sufficient, and employee schedules and salaries.
The STL drivers union decided to go on strike during the Black Friday weekend, in order to have an impact on traffic in stores. A first day of strike took place on November 3.
On Friday, the STL bus service was offered according to an adjusted schedule, and no buses were running on Saturday, until 4 a.m. Sunday morning. These pressure tactics were applied following a decision of the Administrative Labor Tribunal (TAT), which authorized them.
On Monday, the STL asked the TAT to make a temporary decision, since it considered the pressure tactics of its employees illegal. The Société deplores the harmful effects of the strike on citizens who travel by public transport.