Representing more than 120 members, the Syndicat des cols bleus de la Ville de Châteauguay (CUPE 1299) is launching a campaign on the ABCs of Châteauguay city management, as part of collective agreement bargaining. The campaign informs citizens that the employer is demanding a blank cheque for contracting out work and wants to completely eliminate minimum employee levels for outside workers, but doesn’t have any comparative studies demonstrating real savings for taxpayers.
It also shows how contracting out often costs more, reduces control over service quality and weakens local employment. Despite the union’s repeated requests, the city is refusing to provide numbers and explain its strategic orientations.
“Responsible bargaining is all about quantifying and justifying demands,” said Stéphane Paré, CUPE representative. “People have a right to know how much contracting out really costs. As long as it refuses to share its numbers, the city will be asking taxpayers to write a blank check.”
This initiative is a reminder that true flexibility comes from maintaining full teams and keeping expertise in-house and equipment on hand, not from increasing reliance on the private sector. It also highlights real-life cases of the high costs and unsatisfactory results of contracting out.
For full details, go to: scfp.qc.ca/chateauguay-amateurs
State of bargaining
The last day of mediation with the Ministère du travail was February 2, 2026. At that meeting, the union reiterated its willingness to continue bargaining under mediation. However, the employer refused to pursue talks for any of the demands or to allow the mediator to continue, with the aim of obtaining a settlement beyond the 120-day period provided for by law.
On November 19, the union called off a week-long strike in order to maintain service and give mediation a chance. In response to this impasse, the union will meet with its members to reconsider a strike in the coming weeks.