Just five weeks away from the 2026 Montreal UCI Road World Championships, the largest sporting event since the 1976 Olympic Games, the Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal (CUPE 301) is disappointed that the city is not ready for this major international event. Instead of sitting down with its own employees, who have been working with an expired contract since December 31, 2024, the City will hand out contracts to private companies for asphalt resurfacing in preparation for the cycling competition.
“This decision is unjustifiable, with even city officials admitting that costs for the private contractors will be three to four times higher than if the work were conducted in house. This contracting out shows a total lack of respect for workers and for taxpayers,” said Nicolas De Ciccio, CUPE 301 president.
In early August, senior management, running out of time, asked blue-collar workers to take part in the work to prepare for the event. The union stepped up and, as always, asked the city to give a sign they were open to reaching an agreement. Unfortunately, this same administration that had literally asked the union to fill some holes, rejected every option offered by the union.
Since the beginning of May, ten bargaining sessions have been held. The employer has been stubborn and inflexible on all monetary questions. Their wage offers would literally roll back the purchasing power of Montreal blue-collar workers by at least 10%, as they haven’t had any increases since 2024.
The union has never lost faith in bargaining. It tabled real solutions to increase productivity and improve services for residents, including replacing private contract workers with salaried employees of the city, a move that would achieve significant savings. On Friday, August 7, the union’s bargaining committee offered to intensify bargaining sessions in order to reach an agreement. The ball is in management’s court.
“If the city of Montreal does not increase the pace of negotiations, the Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal will have no choice but to increase its pressure tactics, that could lead to a historic labour dispute during the UCI Road World Championships. The blue-collar workers are ready to bargain. It’s up to the city to do the same,” said the union representative in closing.
