Longueuil, Thursday, November 21, 2002 - The general strike of Longueuil’s blue collar workers on Wednesday seems to have had a positive effect. After several meetings, the parties have agreed on certain principles to improve labour relations.
“This means we will not have to resort to pressure tactics. We have reached an agreement with the administration by which all the items causing friction will be settled rapidly,” said Serge Pilote, union representative for CUPE Local 307. As winter sets in, the citizens will undoubtedly be pleased to hear this news.
The administration has agreed to respect the current collective agreements and to finalize all grievances outstanding, or for which application has still not been enforced. CUPE indicated that the City has also agreed to stop relocating employees in the districts. This dispute will be adjudicated shortly by an arbitrator whose decision will be respected by both parties until the conclusion of a new collective agreement.
By virtue of Bill 170 on the municipal mergers, all the collective agreements of the cities involved expired on May 1, 2002. Consequently, certain municipalities have already started bargaining to establish the first collective agreements for the new cities. This is not the case in Longueuil where no date has yet been set to begin these important negotiations, since the parties must first settle the current management problems and improve labour relations.
CUPE represents about 70% of all municipal employees in Qub0065c. In addition to the municipal sector, CUPE is also active in 10 other sectors in Qub0065c including health and social services, education, urban and air transportation, hydroelectricity, Qub0065c’s government corporations and public organizations and communications. With close to 100,000 members in Qub0065c, it is the largest FTQ affiliate.
- 30 -
SOURCE: CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (FTQ)
“This means we will not have to resort to pressure tactics. We have reached an agreement with the administration by which all the items causing friction will be settled rapidly,” said Serge Pilote, union representative for CUPE Local 307. As winter sets in, the citizens will undoubtedly be pleased to hear this news.
The administration has agreed to respect the current collective agreements and to finalize all grievances outstanding, or for which application has still not been enforced. CUPE indicated that the City has also agreed to stop relocating employees in the districts. This dispute will be adjudicated shortly by an arbitrator whose decision will be respected by both parties until the conclusion of a new collective agreement.
By virtue of Bill 170 on the municipal mergers, all the collective agreements of the cities involved expired on May 1, 2002. Consequently, certain municipalities have already started bargaining to establish the first collective agreements for the new cities. This is not the case in Longueuil where no date has yet been set to begin these important negotiations, since the parties must first settle the current management problems and improve labour relations.
CUPE represents about 70% of all municipal employees in Qub0065c. In addition to the municipal sector, CUPE is also active in 10 other sectors in Qub0065c including health and social services, education, urban and air transportation, hydroelectricity, Qub0065c’s government corporations and public organizations and communications. With close to 100,000 members in Qub0065c, it is the largest FTQ affiliate.
- 30 -
SOURCE: CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (FTQ)