Trois-Rivir0065s, Monday, May 26, 2003 Unless a settlement is made very quickly, buses will stop running in Trois-Rivir0065s on Friday, June 6. Last night at a general meeting, 70 employees of the Socit de transport de Trois-Rivir0065s (STTR), represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), voted unanimously in favour of a general strike.
The vote was taken after the members unanimously rejected the most recent package offer, referred to as final, submitted by the STTR last week. Wages and the pension plan are at the heart of the dispute. Following the unanimous rejection of the offer, the employer would be well advised to review his position and give his spokesperson new mandates, said CUPE representative Ren 0046rc0068ette
The collective agreement expired on December 31, 2001. Talks between the parties began on February 20, 2002 and so far, after 22 bargaining sessions, they have still not come to a satisfactory agreement. In January 2003, the members gave their union executive a mandate to undertake pressure tactics going as far as a general strike. The members confirmed they would go out on strike on June 6. It should be noted that between now and the date set for the strike, the parties must come to an agreement on essential services.
Local 4115 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE-FTQ) represents 95 STTR employees including the bus drivers, mechanics and office staff.
CUPE has some 6,500 members in urban transportation in Qub0065c and is active in 10 other sectors including universities, communications, education, municipalities, air transportation, and health and social services. With close to 100,000 members in Quebec CUPE is the largest FTQ affiliate.
This press release and other information are posted on the Internet at scfp.qc.ca
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SOURCE: CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (FTQ)