Workers with the City of Malartic have rejected an offer from their employer, with 87% of workers voting against. The members of CUPE 335 also voted 93% in favour of a mandate to apply pressure tactics, up to and including a possible general strike.
“In Malartic, they are rolling in gold, but they are asking employees to take a hit on wages! While municipal revenues have benefited from the vitality of the mining industry and the City is posting important surpluses, these workers are still waiting for their wages to match the value of their contribution,” said Guillaume Dupont Croteau, CUPE union representative.
The City registered a surplus of more than two million dollars in 2024, as well as substantial budget surpluses for 2025. This situation is happening in the context of particularly favorable financial conditions for the mining industry, notably with industrial tax revenues associated with the activities of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and the Odyssey gold mine.
The workers’ last collective agreement expired on December 31, 2024. A tentative agreement was reached last June, but the employer refused to ratify, a highly unusual situation.
In the midst of a financial crisis, these workers have continued to provide services with pride and professionalism, ensuring the community they serve continue to enjoy high-quality public services—all while watching their purchasing power get eroded by inflation.
“Because we care about the quality of services being delivered to the public, we need to stand up for fairness. We congratulate the City on the investments they made in municipal infrastructure, but you need to have the qualified and dedicated personnel in place to maintain and operate it. In an environment where staffing shortages are common, particularly in isolated areas like Abitibi-Témiscamingue, no employer can afford to lose such a precious resource and expertise,” said the union representative, in closing.
The union reiterated its objective of reaching a negotiated agreement that is satisfactory to both parties, as soon as possible.
