An overwhelming majority (94.2%) of the 735 members of the union representing professionals with the Société québécoise des infrastructures, SPSQI, CUPE 5522, have accepted the tentative agreement presented to them earlier this week. They had been without a contract for four years, and their new agreement will run through 2028.
“These negotiations, though difficult, afforded both parties the opportunity to examine issues important to the future of the Société québécoise des infrastructures, SQI. The employer now has greater recognition of the expertise of professionals managing the biggest infrastructure projects in Quebec. Going forward, it will be easier to attract and especially retain our members, who gave us their support throughout these talks,” declared Mario Laroche, president of CUPE 5522.
In addition to major wage hikes, the members obtained several gains in other areas such as work schedules and better protection of their rights thanks to clearer parameters built into the collective agreement.
The SPSQI has engineers, architects, project managers, real estate advisors and other professionals who plan and manage major projects and the maintenance of Government of Quebec buildings the SQI owns. The major projects include the construction of all of the Maisons des aînés, new hospitals, new secondary schools and renovation and construction work on court houses and penal institutions throughout Quebec.