The buses deserted the streets of Lévis on a large part of its territory, Monday, for the first of six days of a strike launched by the union of drivers and drivers of the ST Lévis.
A blitz of negotiations that began over the past few days with two mediators from the Ministry of Transport has failed to bridge the gap between the two parties. The 110 drivers and drivers demand a catch-up salary and a plan to eliminate the use of subcontracting, responsible, according to them, for the precariousness of more than a quarter of union members.
The City of Lévis has been hiring a private firm for decades to operate public transit in the west of its territory. While the Autocars des Chutes are running, deplores the union, 30 ST Lévis drivers only have occasional status, with no guarantee of hours.
The transport company says it is open to ending its contract with Autobus Auger, the company that operates the Autocars des Chutes. On the other hand, specifies Michel Patry, the vice-president of ST Lévis, the current contract will remain in force until 2028.
“As of 2025, we are going to buy electric buses to meet our obligation in relation to the government plan for the electrification of transport. This means that we will have a garage adapted to accommodate them. On this horizon, we are ready to look at this with the union so that in 2028, we can put an end to subcontracting. »
Mr. Patry indicates that, currently, ST Lévis simply does not have the means to do without private services. “Autocars des Chutes saves us from having to “staff” buses and a garage to put them in. Currently, our garage is full to capacity: we would have to build another one to park additional buses. »
Salary issue
“We are currently facing an exodus,” said Alain Audet, president of the STLévis drivers’ union. Even though many have left to retire, “we can clearly see that STLévis is not in a position to attract a new generation,” adds Mr. Audet.
A driver who works for the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) earns, on average, $13,000 more per year than on the South Shore, according to the union. A sign, according to him, that the working conditions in Lévis are unattractive: 35 RTC drivers live on the South Shore.
This is the second walkout in three months for Lévis drivers. A one-day strike in November paralyzed service in the center and east of Lévis, notably disrupting the comings and goings of student customers.
This time, the union members have a mandate in their pocket to interrupt service for the full week. “The gap remains wide between our demands and their proposals”, affirms Alain Audet, without however quantifying each other to “avoid negotiating in the public square”.
The management of ST Lévis assures that “certain progress” has taken place in recent days. In a press release, she deplores a strike that “takes users hostage” and certifies that she wants to reach an agreement “that respects taxpayers’ ability to pay. »
“I am aware that everyone wants to improve their lot in life,” says Michel Patry, vice-president of STLévis. However, there is a cost to that. It happens that it is the STLévis which pays and that the STLévis, it is the government, the City and the users who finance it. »
“Our demands are not extravagant,” said the union camp. For the time being, the negotiations remain at a standstill, and the mandate of the two mediators sent by the government will end on January 28. Alain Audet, he says that his members remain open to continue the discussions.
“If we are able to stop this tomorrow morning, it will be our pleasure to return behind the wheel, explains the union leader. We think of the population and we look forward to giving them service. »