Two-and-a-half years after Longueuil amalgamated, its 600 outside workers are still waiting for their first mega-city collective agreement.
Talks began in February 2002. And 46 meetings and 26 mediation sessions later, theres nothing to show.
Says CUPE Local 307 President Mario Gauthier, Almost nothing is settled. Not even housekeeping. We havent even begun to discuss monetary issues. The city is dragging its heals to force arbitration. Its even more shocking because they have settled with all the other groups.
More than 150 outside workers were on hand at an employee information meeting this week, convened by Longueuil Mayor Jacques Olivier.
While they were willing to hear the mayor, they also let him know that a new city needs to be built with all its employees and that a negotiated settlement is in everyones interest.
