The Steelworkers union has just launched a new kind of campaign to organize some 900 workers at the Aluminerie Alouette in Sept-Îles.
Posted at 2:11 p.m.
Updated at 3:19 p.m.
Currently, there is no real union in this large aluminum smelter on the North Shore, although there is an “advisory committee” of a few workers, but without union dues, explained Friday Nicolas Lapierre, regional coordinator of the Steelworkers Union for Eastern Quebec.
The organizing campaign is unique in that it allows you to sign a membership card for the Steelworkers union using a QR code. This code is found in particular on a page of the newspaper Le Nord-Côtier.
This method allows more discretion in the process of unionization, in a city the size of Sept-Îles, argued Mr. Lapierre.
Everything leads to a page where the union explains its services and demystifies union dues, etc. And there is also the possibility of paying union membership – a symbolic sum of $2 – by credit card, underlines the coordinator of the Steelworkers, affiliated with the FTQ.
The campaign, which began in the middle of the week, is having some success, reports Mr. Lapierre. “The cards are starting to come in; it’s going smoothly. »
However, he notes that the campaign can be spread over several weeks or months.
There was already a group of workers sympathetic to the union for some time already, without it being a majority, explains Mr. Lapierre.
He believes that his new campaign is benefiting from the dissatisfaction of the aluminum smelter workers, since several of them have recently staged a sit-in to protest against the wage increases granted by the company.
“It’s 2.9% that they offered them this year. It does not follow the evolution of the cost of living. They deserve more,” objects Mr. Lapierre.
He concedes that these workers still receive a good salary, but notes that it is not only the salary that counts, but also the pension plan, insurance, for example.
Management responds
Reached by email, the company’s management did not comment on the Steelworkers’ organizing campaign itself.
She also did not confirm the sit-in of workers dissatisfied with wage offers.
However, the employer pointed out that “the most recent salary improvements have made Aluminerie Alouette the company offering the highest remuneration in its reference market, namely all of the aluminum smelters in Quebec”.
“For more than 30 years, we have favored a proactive and participative management method and it is in this perspective that we wish to continue our collaboration with all employees,” added management.