At a general meeting last night, the union representing Hydro-Québec grid employees (CUPE 5735) voted in favour of pressure tactics up to and including an unlimited general strike and for the establishment of a special assessment to provide financial support for this mandate. All told, 97% of the members present supported both proposals.
This is part of the ongoing actions undertaken by the local. On November 12, members voted in favour of a possible five-day strike. It is currently in force in the form of a refusal to work overtime, which runs from June 16 to June 20.
“This vote is a logical continuation of our mobilization. Our members are determined to obtain a satisfactory agreement in keeping with their commitment and essential contribution to Hydro-Québec,” said CUPE 5735 President Marc-André Bouchard.
By voting in favour of a mandate for an unlimited general strike and for the financial means to support it, CUPE 5735 is sending a clear message: the mobilization is continuing and intensifying.
The union will not be giving any interviews, as it must focus on negotiations and the mobilization underway.