The Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT) has ruled in favour of the Syndicat des cols blancs de Terrebonne (CUPE 2326) in a ruling published last Friday, January 24. Close to sixty professionals are joining their union.
“We are thrilled with the ruling which not only expands our employment base and promotional opportunities, but also gives us more leverage in an environment where labour relations with management are difficult,” said Chantal Riopel, president of CUPE 2326.
In March 2019, the new director general of the Town of Terrebonne changed the job status of 70 or so managers to professionals. The TAT declared that the CUPE 2326 bargaining unit included all salaried professional positions, except those specifically excluded by its wording, which represented around 15 people. The latter will make up another bargaining unit.
Difficult labour relations
Last January 8, various unions in Terrebonne, which represented around 1000 people, decided to join forces and organize under a common banner – l’Intersyndical de Terrebonne. This date also coincided with the anniversary of the date director general Alain Marcoux took office. The union representatives hold him responsible for much of the sharp deterioration of labour relations and the major cuts to services to citizens of Terrebonne.
“Alain Marcoux has a poor reputation, as he has undermined labour relations both in Quebec City and in Montreal, where he was previously. We hope that he understands that employees are united more than they ever have been to defend their rights and those of the citizens of Terrebonne,” said Riopel.