The three unions that make up a common front in negotiations with Hydro-Québec demonstrated in front of HQ head office earlier today. The unions representing professional and office employees with Hydro-Québec, CUPE 2000, Hydro-Québec specialists and professionals, CUPE 4250, and Hydro-Québec network employees, CUPE 5735, have been attempting to negotiate a new collective agreement for more than a year.
Collectively, they make up close to 8000 HQ employees, and the purpose of the demonstration was to get Hydro-Québec to inject some urgency into lagging talks.
“Hydro-Québec employees have also been hit by inflation in recent years. We’ve got to get an agreement! These employees are the reason why Hydro-Quebec is recognized as a world leader in its field. Showing them gratitude by offering them a good contract would be the least they could do,” said Dominic Morin, the common front spokesman and coordinator of the CUPE Quebec energy sector.
In November 2024, the three unions voted resoundingly (CUPE 4250 – 98.47%, CUPE 2000 – 96% and CUPE 5735 – 98%) in favour of pressure tactics up to and including a five-day strike.
The pension plan, the salary security plan, wage increases and teleworking are the issues at the heart of the dispute.