On March 9, the union representing approximately 120 inside workers, technicians, professionals and engineers of Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) signed their collective agreement. The previous one expired in December 2020.
The five-year contract, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025, includes several significant gains, including a re-evaluation of some classifications and wage increases of 2 per cent plus a lump sum of 1 per cent for 2021, 2.5 per cent for 2022 and 1 per cent for the subsequent years.
In addition, during the first three years of their contract, if an agreement between the Treasury Board of Canada and the Architecture, Engineering and Land Survey Group calls for conditions better than those of the JCCBI members, the latter will automatically receive the same benefits.
Other improvements include an extensive revision of several non-monetary clauses, improvements to maternity leave benefits and work form home conditions.
“We’re quite proud of the clauses we negotiated. We managed to come up with a win-win agreement in an atmosphere of mutual respect,” declared CUPE Representative Emmanuelle Bournival.
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, a federal Crown Corporation founded in 1978, is responsible for the original Jacques Cartier Bridge and the Champlain Bridges, the Estacade, the Île-des-Soeurs Bypass Bridge, the federal sections of the Bonaventure Expressway and the Honoré Mercier Bridge, as well as the Melocheville Tunnel.