This afternoon, 96% of CUPE 5561 members — which represents maintenance support staff at the Corporation de l’École des hautes études commerciales de Montréal, HEC — voted in favour of a tentative agreement with the university.
“This was a long round of bargaining. We had to push back against a large number of employer demands attempting to weaken staff’s working conditions,” said CUPE 5561 President Stéphane Martineau. “Thanks to our determination and patience, we’ve secured a first collective agreement that protects the benefits our members rely on.”
The three-year contract runs until May 31, 2027, and includes competitive wage increases as well as parity for some job classifications.
“This agreement brings labour peace through 2027,” added CUPE 5561 Vice-President Éric Boileau. “We’ll be using that time to show HEC just how much its workers contribute to the university’s mission and that excessive reliance on subcontracting is not the path forward.”
This is the first group in the university’s history to unionize. The local was certified in May 2024, following 15 bargaining sessions. The final four sessions were held under conciliation.