CUPE is demanding that the City of Montreal speed up its grievance procedure to deal quickly with the suspension of 74 parking officers.
The “Green Onions” as they are called in Montreal were suspended after it was revealed that some City staff took improper advantage of a system of VIP stickers that allowed certain vehicles leeway when it came to the enforcement of parking bylaws.
Local 301, representing the parking officers, contends that politicians, senior police offices and other high-ranking officials also took advantage of the system. Yet no action has been taken against these officials.
The local has protested that the parking officers have been made scapegoats and that the penalty - suspension without pay for 90 days - is completely out of line with the severity of the offense.
“We have no intention of allowing our members to linger in agony and uncertainty when we are convinced that we can win this case in arbitration,” said Luc Chabot, representing Local 301.