They are road maintenance agents in Quebec, airplane pilots, office workers at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, longshoremen at the Port of Montreal, or linemen at Hydro-Québec… What do they have? in common ? They are in the process of renewing their collective agreements. Here’s a look at union members negotiating their working conditions this year.
In the Quebec public sector
After a holiday break, the unions of civil servants, workers and professionals in the Quebec government returned to the negotiating table this week. These are the Quebec Public and Parapublic Service Union (SFPQ), as well as the Quebec Government Professionals Union (SPGQ).
“Our collective agreements expired on 1er April 2023. It will be almost nine months. What we want is to reach a settlement quickly,” hopes the general president of the SFPQ, Christian Daigle, who believes that public services should be considered priorities, “like health and education.” .
Furthermore, if the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE) and the Common Front — the inter-union grouping which includes the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS — have reached agreements with Quebec in recent weeks, it is necessary still waiting for the outcome of the vote of their members, expected in the coming weeks.
The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) is still in negotiations.
At the Ports of Quebec and Montreal
The 81 longshoremen at the Port of Quebec, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (SCPQ), are still locked out. Talks with their employer, the Société des arrimers de Québec, which began in May 2022, have still not borne fruit. A month ago, the workers meeting in a general assembly mainly rejected a mediator’s proposal aimed at putting an end to the lockout which has lasted for almost 16 months.
The approximately 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal, also represented by the SCPQ, have been without an employment contract since December 31. Negotiations began in September.
At Air Canada and Air Transat
There are also tensions in the air.
Air Canada pilots are currently negotiating the renewal of their collective agreement. The Airline Pilots Association, which represents more than 5,000 pilots at the nation’s largest airline, launched the process last June. Lasting 10 years, their collective agreement was to expire in 2024, but the union members invoked a clause last May putting an end to it a year earlier than planned. In the midst of a labor shortage, Air Canada pilots are demanding better salaries to reduce the gap with those offered in the United States.
As for Air Transat flight attendants, a new agreement in principle was reached a few days ago between the air carrier and CUPE, which represents 2,100 union members. The latter are currently being asked to rule on the agreement, and their verdict will be known on January 28.
At Hydro-Québec
The approximately 16,000 Hydro-Québec union members are also negotiating the renewal of their collective agreements. Six bargaining committees are involved, all CUPE locals representing different trades: linemen, technologists, office workers. Last April, the union members of the state company indicated that they were “preparing for the worst”.
On the sidelines of negotiations for the renewal of their collective agreements, Hydro-Québec union members are also concerned about greater privatization of electricity production. They also launched an awareness campaign this week in this regard.