In Quebec, 3,310 CUPE members are walking the picket line where six local unions are involved in five labour disputes. CUPE members are on strike at the City of Malartic, Vido0074ron Limite002c Socit du Parc des les, the Sc0075r armoured-truck company and the municipality of St-Basile-le-Grand, south of Montra006c.
In the Qub0065c municipal sector, three municipalities are currently experiencing labour disputes. In Malartic, a dozen inside workers, mostly women, were locked out by the City on April 29. Employment security is at the heart of the dispute. In Montra006c, 125 members of CUPE 301, employees of the authority that operates the islands that formed the former Expo site, have been on strike since May 31. They are paid barely more than minimum wage. Negotiations are at the conciliation stage and discussions are in progress. South of Montra006c, in St-Basile-le-Grand, outside workers went out on strike July 30 after bargaining turned sour last week. Organization of work is the main issue in dispute.
At one minute past midnight on May 8, CUPE 1417 and 2815, representing 2,200 employees of the largest cable company in Qub0065c, declared a work stoppage. Fourteen minutes later, their employer, Vido0074ron Limite002c owned by Quebecor, declared a lockout. The company is using strikebreakers, prolonging the bitter dispute. At this moment, retired Judge Alan B. Gold is leading a special mediation effort, attempting to bring the parties together.
Another major dispute involves 900 Sc0075r employees who went out on strike July 5. In addition to other duties, these workers are responsible for supplying cash to automatic teller machines in most banks in Qub0065c. Sc0075rs owner, the Mouvement coopr0061tif Desjardins, is also using strikebreakers. More than 200 Sc0075r workers occupied Desjardins Group offices in Montra006c, Lv0069s, Saguenay and Trois-Rivir0065s July 29 to step up pressure for a settlement. Talks are underway in the presence of a conciliator.