Cht0065auguay, Wednesday, August 22, 2001 - The inside workers at the Conseil intermunicipal de transport du Sud-Ouest (CITSO) have accepted a tentative agreement which will give them their first collective agreement. One year after joining the Canadian Union of Public Employees, CITSO ticket agents, cashiers, client services reps., and others, will benefit from improved working conditions as a result of this recent agreement.
The bargaining was difficult, but it allowed us find a win-win solution for both parties, said Carole Bouchard, President of CUPE Local 4379. The employer, especially Mr. Pavone, Cht0065auguays mayor, had clear, well-defined ideas about flexibility and payroll. We wanted good working conditions, comparable to those in other environments, she added.
Last week, a city councillor from Saint-Timothe0020led people to believe that the ratification of this contract by CITSO would lead to a 25% increase in the payroll for this group of workers. CUPE points out that the annual payroll for the entire CITSO office staff will be about $120,000 in 2002, compared to $132,000 in 1998, thanks to a work re-organization plan negotiated by both parties.
This tentative agreement should be on the agenda for the CITSO meeting this evening. This first collective agreement for the office staff covers three years, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The CITSO serves the municipalities of Cht0065auguay, Lr0079, Maple Grove, Beauharnois, Saint-Timothe002c Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Melocheville, and Grande-le.
CUPE represents about 6,500 urban transit workers in Quebec. With almost 100,000 members in 11 sectors of activity, CUPE is also the largest union affiliate of the QFL.
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SOURCE: CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (QFL)
Information:
Michel Bibeau, cell: 514-386-5485
Robert Bellerose, 514-384-9681, ext. 239 (cell: 514-247-9266)