In recent weeks, Hydro-Québec has been hit by a tidal wave of strike votes. Members of the union representing Hydro-Québec on-site nurses (SIICHQ) (CUPE 5514), which is made up of about fifty or so employees, has just voted 96% in favour of a mandate calling for pressure tactics up to and including an unlimited general strike.
This vote comes on the heels of another three strike votes involving HQ unions. Last November 21, the 5430 members of the union representing Hydro-Québec professionals and specialists (CUPE 4250) voted 98.5% in favour. And on November 13, the unions representing the 2300 Hydro-Québec office and professional techniques employees (CUPE 2000) and the 195 Hydro-Québec network employees (CUPE 5735) voted 96% and 98% respectively.
CUPE 5514, which has been in talks with Hydro-Québec since November 2023, was formed in April 2023 and is currently negotiating its first collective agreement.