On Thursday, the 517 inside workers employed by the City of Trois-Rivières voted 66% in favour of a tentative agreement reached last December 18. The new six-year contract runs from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2028.
It calls for wage hikes of 3% in 2023, 3% in 2024, 2.5 to 3% in 2025 based on the Consumer Price Index, CPI, 2 to 3% in 2026 based on the CPI, 1.2% in 2027 and between 2 and 3% in 2028, again based on the CPI. In addition, the wage structure will be raised by 2 to 3% of the wage bill.
Vacation days were increased, and a new variable or compressed scheduling clause was negotiated. Moreover, major improvement were made to pension plan conditions. The significantly enhanced parental leave the employer granted to mothers has been expanded to include fathers.
The parties also agreed on terms to maintain the working conditions of professionals recently joining the union and on interim equity measures for professionals who were already members.
“The rising cost of living severely impacted the inside workers, which is why we were seeking major improvements to our working conditions. It’s also essential to the people of Trois-Rivieres, because the city is having trouble recruiting and retaining employees, which adversely affects public services. Our members would have liked even higher wage gains than what they got. On the other hand, we did gain ground on scheduling, vacations, the pension plan and parental leave, which will make a significant difference,” explained Patricia Larouche, president of CUPE 3423, the union representing public servants in Trois-Rivières.
Negotiations began in March 2022. The Quebec Ministry of Labour established a mediation process in August 2024. On October 3, a general meeting was held, and the membership voted 94% of a strike mandate. Finally, the parties reached a tentative agreement last December 18.
The inside workers in Trois-Rivières consist of 165 different job titles and fall into three groups – support, technical and professionals. They include secretaries, admin clerks, library clerks, emergency dispatchers, technicians, business analysts, geographers, specialists, advisers, urban planners, engineers and lawyers, to name a few.