Montreal blue-collar workers launch 2nd strike phase amid stalled talks

The Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal (CUPE 301) began a second strike phase Wednesday morning as contract negotiations with the City of Montreal remain at an impasse.

The three-day work stoppage runs until Saturday at 6 a.m.

It follows a previous one-day strike in February, which marked the first walkout by Montreal blue-collar workers in more than 15 years.

“The city isn’t offering us anything,” said Jean-Pierre Lauzon, president of CUPE 301. “They want to settle for an 11 per cent raise, and that’s unacceptable to us. Our blue-collar workers are worth more than that.”

“I actually think that this is a way for the workers to indicate to the public that they actually care,” said CUPE Local 79 president, Nas Yadollahi. “Workers really do hold the balance of power, and I think the employer forgets sometimes because they take the work that these workers do every day for granted.”

The union says negotiations stalled due to the city’s ‘inflexibility on its impoverishing financial framework’ despite more than 50 negotiations and mediation meetings over pay.

Their contract expired at the end of 2024.

“We’ve worked hard to develop and negotiate collective bargaining agreements that are worth more than that, and we don’t understand why the city continues to stick to its financial framework,” said Lauzon. “We say it all the time: we’re not going on strike just to spite them. We’ve had enough; we have no choice. We’ve tried to come up with solutions, but they’re sticking to their budget.”

While the parties have reached agreements on normative clauses, the union says negotiations have stalled over the city’s financial framework, which it describes as inadequate in the context of a rising cost of living.

In a statement, the city officials said:

“The City of Montreal is sparing no effort to reach a negotiated agreement as quickly as possible with the Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal, aimed at renewing the collective agreement of some 5,500 blue-collar employees. The City is cooperating fully to reach an agreement in the best interest of the parties and that respects the financial capacity of the City and Montreal taxpayers.”

The union says they’ve agreed on non-monetary items, but say the point of contention stems from the city’s refusal on their demand of a minimum 20 per cent raise in worker salaries, which they say is essential to help workers cope with the increasing cost of living.

“We have meetings next week,” said Lauzon. “We had one yesterday that lasted until about 2:00 or 2:30 p.m., and we had some good discussions, but they need to provide us with solutions and figures so we can move forward.”

Adding: “We wonder why blue-collar workers are leaving the city. It’s because they can’t afford decent housing in Montreal. So, we’re asking for pay raises that will ensure our blue-collar workers are taken care of. They want to work in the city of Montreal; they want to work for the city, but they need wages to support themselves.”

The city’s essential services are being maintained amid the strike.

Montrealers are asked to consult the city’s website or call 311 before heading to municipal facilities to ensure they are still being offered.