The members of Société Immobilière du Québec (SESIQ, CUPE 2929) have signed a new collective agreement with the employer. The agreement runs from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015.
“The negotiation was not easy. The SIQ were sticking to the wage increases granted to the public sector,” explained Serge Genest, president of SESIQ.
After more than 30 bargaining sessions, the parties reached an agreement in principal, including wage increases of 0.5 percent for 2010, plus 0.25 percent in subsequent years, to finally reach 2 percent in 2014, indexed to the consumer price index.
“We had to be very creative in order to achieve significant gains for our members. We can say mission accomplished!” noted Genest.
Other gains include an increase in the employer’s contribution to group insurance, paid paternity leave of five weeks, two additional sick leaves, and improved conditions for casual employees hired for a period of six months or more.
The tentative agreement was ratified by 79 per cent of the 480 members of the SESIQ. It was submitted to them during a round of general meetings across Quebec, which ended on April 13.
”We would like to thank our union structure and our members for their support during the negotiations,” concluded Genest.