The 24 members of the union representing Quebec firefighters in the Municipality of St. Sulpice, local 7192 affiliated with the Conseil provincial du secteur incendie SPQ-CUPE, unanimously ratified the tentative agreement reached with the employer at a general meeting last January 27. This collective agreement, their very first since this local was organized in 2023, was signed at the St. Sulpice town hall yesterday.
This five-year agreement, which runs from 2024 to 2028, calls for substantial wage hikes varying between 17%, 16% and 21.16%, which are pegged to the CPI for the Montreal region. It also includes several significant gains, particularly enhanced compensation for those who are on duty during statutory holidays and construction vacations. Premiums have also been increased for meals and for cases when a replacement must fill in for the fire chief when he is absent, sick or on vacation.
The agreement also sets out new procedures for weather-related personnel requirements and improves compensation terms relating to training for participants and trainers. A time bank for union representatives has also been created.
“We’re proud that our members now have their very first collective agreement, which includes terms pertaining to working conditions more representative of the firefighting sector,” declared Maxime Decelles, president of CUPE 7192. He also thanked the bargaining committee and union representative Rima Chébib for their support during these talks.