Tuesday night, the white- and blue-collar workers in the municipality of Louiseville in Mauricie, Quebec voted unanimously in favour of the tentative agreement reached by their bargaining committee and the employer’s representatives. They had been without a contract since December 31, 2017.
Negotiations between both parties to renew the collective agreement were arduous. Last October, the 24 employees voted 100% in favour of pressure tactics up to and including an unlimited general strike. However, an agreement was reached last week in the presence of a conciliator.
This new seven-year agreement includes wage catch-up for the first year and salary hikes of 2.5% for each of the subsequent years.
Improvements to shift premiums and meal allowances along with the formation of a wage equity committee were also negotiated.
The president of CUPE Local 968, Martine Lemay, was pleased with this agreement. “We are very proud to have reached this agreement. “I’d like to thank all of the white- and blue-collar workers for their confidence and solidarity.”
Mario Fontaine, a CUPE representative added that, “The presence of a conciliator removed the obstacles that prevented us from reaching an acceptable agreement for the Louiseville union membership.”