As the holiday season approaches, the Syndicat des brigadiers scolaires de Montréal (CUPE 930) has denounced the City’s nickel and dime tactics when it laid off 735 school crossing guards for four days following the Government of Quebec’s announcement, which has forced schools to turn to distance learning.
“The City is making insignificant savings on the backs of these precarious workers. The City of Montreal is a bunch of cheapskates. After the difficult year we’ve been through, this will make our members even poorer, as they are only working between 20 and 25 hours a week on average,” declared union President Manon Gosselin.
The City has decided to lay off its employees on December 17, 18, 21 and 22. However, according to Employment Insurance regulations, they will not be entitled to benefits for two of the four days, having worked the start of the week, i.e., from December 14 to 16.
“The City already made savings at our expense when it laid us off for three months early in the year. The City is shifting the fiscal burden to Quebeckers by laying us off instead of following the rules of our contract,” added Gosselin.
The union believes the City has violated the collective agreement and will be filing a grievance to this effect.
“Grievances and arbitrations are costly to both parties. The City could have saved money simply by abiding by the terms of the contract. Our members who are out on street corners every day to protect our children deserve at least that,” she added.