Traffic was snarled in downtown Montra006c September 17 as blue collar workers, members of CUPE 301, took to the streets to press for a resumption of contract talks.
The local had reached an agreement in principle with the city July 9, but subsequent meetings to work out the details saw the city shifting numbers, and going back on contract commitments.
With the in-principle agreement in tatters, the union broke off talks August 29, and announced an end to the truce it had declared in late May.
Wednesdays action was the first sign that the locals members are feeling the anxiety of working without a collective agreement under a provincial government whose agenda explicitly targets municipal workers.
The Charest government has pledged to allow municipalities to reverse amalgamations mandated by the former government. The mergers improved the wages and working conditions of many municipal workers in smaller communities.
The Liberals are also threatening changes to the Qub0065c labour code which would make it easier for municipal governments to privatize or contract out core services.
The local had reached an agreement in principle with the city July 9, but subsequent meetings to work out the details saw the city shifting numbers, and going back on contract commitments.
With the in-principle agreement in tatters, the union broke off talks August 29, and announced an end to the truce it had declared in late May.
Wednesdays action was the first sign that the locals members are feeling the anxiety of working without a collective agreement under a provincial government whose agenda explicitly targets municipal workers.
The Charest government has pledged to allow municipalities to reverse amalgamations mandated by the former government. The mergers improved the wages and working conditions of many municipal workers in smaller communities.
The Liberals are also threatening changes to the Qub0065c labour code which would make it easier for municipal governments to privatize or contract out core services.