The some 60 drivers of minibuses and microbuses with Transdev paratransit in Montérégie have their very first collective agreement, which their employer and their union, CUPE 5540, signed on Monday, June 9. The contract calls for sizeable wage increases, totalling 23% over three years.
These negotiations provided an opportunity to both improve and codify established practices. The agreement was reached following a successful campaign to mobilize members and give them greater visibility. According to the union, the talks took place in a cordial environment.
“This collective agreement is the best private paratransit contract in Quebec, particularly in terms of wages. It will serve as a yardstick to boost overall wages in the field, which, unfortunately, have been far too low. CUPE is proud to have met this challenge and looks forward to what is next,” commented CUPE union representative Jocelyn Bourdon.
The paratransit drivers with Transdev in Montérégie joined CUPE in December 2023. Their employer is Transdev, a private transit multinational, which has a public authority contract with the Exo network to provide paratransit services on the entire territory of Montérégie, with the exception of the area covered by the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) and the territory of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
This ensures transit service for customers with reduced mobility in Beloeil, Candiac, Chambly, Châteauguay, Delson, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel-Tracy, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion.