Quebec expects to appoint an arbitrator within 48 hours in order to overcome the labor dispute at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery in Montreal, in front of which bereaved families have once again launched a cry from the heart.
This measure would have the effect of immediately ending the general strike of employees which has been going on since last January, explained the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, in a scrum on Monday.
The latter met separately with the two parties on Monday to suggest that they appoint an arbitrator to resolve the conflict.
Jean Boulet claims to have received an “extremely positive” response from the employer party, while the union representatives informed him that they were undertaking a “reflection” on this subject.
The parties have up to 48 hours to agree to the appointment of an arbitrator, otherwise an arbitrator cannot be appointed.
Recall that a tentative agreement between management and the union of cemetery maintenance employees was rejected last month.
Both sides had agreed to support the recommendation of the province’s chief mediator, the labor minister said June 15, calling the potential deal an “excellent development.” But the cemetery maintenance union finally rejected it.
Field workers, who have been without a collective agreement since 2018, have been on strike since last January, while office workers have been on strike since September, who have been without a contract since 2017.