Montra006c, Monday, January 13, 2003 Montra006c’s municipal employees assigned to Social Welfare and certain employment services in the territory of the past City of Montra006c began a series of rotating strikes early this morning. These pressure tactics initiated by the union members conform to the Conseil des services essentiels’ decision rendered on January 10 of this year.
Three centres will be closed today, two employment centres (Centre local d’emploi) located at 4994 Beaubien Street East and at 5656 Iberville as well as the Emploi-Qub0065c regional administrative office located at 5350 Lafond. Striking workers have been picketing in front of the Lafond Street office since 8:30 this morning, so several government officials have been able to observe the union members’ dissatisfaction and determination first hand.
On December 3, 2002, the government unilaterally broke off discussions with the union and repeated its desire to repatriate all activities that, until now, have been managed by the City of Montra006c. At the same time, no guarantees were offered in regard to the future of the union members concerned. Other than citing purely administrative rationalizations, the representatives of the Ministr0065 de l’Emploi et de la Solidarit 0073ociale seem unable to justify their position. This attitude is even more difficult to understand in that, on many occasions in the past, the City of Montra006c has effectively reorganized services performed by the government. In 1988, Montra006c very successfully introduced employability measures for its clientele that had been put forward by the government.
“Our action has been initiated after having taken numerous steps without any concrete results. Discussions began almost two years ago and, from the beginning, it was clear that the Ministr0065’s spokesperson was simply playing for time. The possibility that they want to postpone this file until after the provincial elections seems obvious. With less than 80 days before our agreements expire, we cannot remain silent about the threat facing 1,100 of our members!” said Daniel Papillon Demers, president of the Syndicat des fonctionnaires municipaux de Montra006c (SFMM).
The public employees intend to continue this rotating strike throughout the week, paralyzing, in turn, the activities of 13 CLE located in the territory of the past City of Montra006c. The plan of action provides that all 24 CLE will be affected between now and February 7 and union members are not excluding the possibility of a general strike.
The SFMM (CUPE-FTQ) represents approximately 8,000 employees of the City of Montra006c who work in some 350 different positions in the new City of Montra006c as well as in para-municipal corporations including: Socit du Parc des les (SPI), Socit de dv0065loppement de Montra006c (SDM), Socit d’habitation et de dv0065loppement de Montra006c (SHDM), Office municipal d’habitation de Montra006c (OMHM), Parc Six Flags Montra006c, Cit 004eordelec inc., Corporation Anjou 80 and Stationnement de Montra006c. In addition to the municipalities, CUPE is active in 10 other sectors of activity in Qub0065c including health and social services, education, universities, urban and air transportation, hydroelectricity, provincial corporations and public organizations as well as communications. With close to 100,000 members in Qub0065c, it is also the largest FTQ affiliate.
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SOURCE: SYNDICAT DES FONCTIONNAIRES MUNICIPAUX DE MONTRAL (SFMM)
Three centres will be closed today, two employment centres (Centre local d’emploi) located at 4994 Beaubien Street East and at 5656 Iberville as well as the Emploi-Qub0065c regional administrative office located at 5350 Lafond. Striking workers have been picketing in front of the Lafond Street office since 8:30 this morning, so several government officials have been able to observe the union members’ dissatisfaction and determination first hand.
On December 3, 2002, the government unilaterally broke off discussions with the union and repeated its desire to repatriate all activities that, until now, have been managed by the City of Montra006c. At the same time, no guarantees were offered in regard to the future of the union members concerned. Other than citing purely administrative rationalizations, the representatives of the Ministr0065 de l’Emploi et de la Solidarit 0073ociale seem unable to justify their position. This attitude is even more difficult to understand in that, on many occasions in the past, the City of Montra006c has effectively reorganized services performed by the government. In 1988, Montra006c very successfully introduced employability measures for its clientele that had been put forward by the government.
“Our action has been initiated after having taken numerous steps without any concrete results. Discussions began almost two years ago and, from the beginning, it was clear that the Ministr0065’s spokesperson was simply playing for time. The possibility that they want to postpone this file until after the provincial elections seems obvious. With less than 80 days before our agreements expire, we cannot remain silent about the threat facing 1,100 of our members!” said Daniel Papillon Demers, president of the Syndicat des fonctionnaires municipaux de Montra006c (SFMM).
The public employees intend to continue this rotating strike throughout the week, paralyzing, in turn, the activities of 13 CLE located in the territory of the past City of Montra006c. The plan of action provides that all 24 CLE will be affected between now and February 7 and union members are not excluding the possibility of a general strike.
The SFMM (CUPE-FTQ) represents approximately 8,000 employees of the City of Montra006c who work in some 350 different positions in the new City of Montra006c as well as in para-municipal corporations including: Socit du Parc des les (SPI), Socit de dv0065loppement de Montra006c (SDM), Socit d’habitation et de dv0065loppement de Montra006c (SHDM), Office municipal d’habitation de Montra006c (OMHM), Parc Six Flags Montra006c, Cit 004eordelec inc., Corporation Anjou 80 and Stationnement de Montra006c. In addition to the municipalities, CUPE is active in 10 other sectors of activity in Qub0065c including health and social services, education, universities, urban and air transportation, hydroelectricity, provincial corporations and public organizations as well as communications. With close to 100,000 members in Qub0065c, it is also the largest FTQ affiliate.
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SOURCE: SYNDICAT DES FONCTIONNAIRES MUNICIPAUX DE MONTRAL (SFMM)