The 36 employees of the SHDM, who have been on strike since last January 9, demonstrated yesterday in front of the employer’s offices.
The union, which has been without a collective agreement since December 2017, has run up against intransigence by SHDM at the bargaining table. The latter is steadfast in wanting to exclude landscape labourers from the minimum employee level and is only offering slight improvements to working conditions. In addition, the wage increases proposed are clearly insufficient at a time when inflation is running at around 5 per cent.
In spite of the presence of a mediator appointed by the Ministry of Labour in this case, no significant progress has been made to date. The comprehensive offers by the SHDM at a meeting last Friday were once again deemed unacceptable by the bargaining committee.
The union is planning on stepping up pressure in the coming months, unless it can come to a fair and equitable agreement with the employer.
The employees concerned perform property management support duties and are represented by the union representing consolidated outside workers in Montreal (CUPE 301).