Brett Thoms
Pontiac November 7, 2022
Labour negotiations continue between the employees of the MRC Pontiac represented by the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) and the MRC management.
Both sides remain at an impasse.
According to Michel Girard, regional president of the Laurentides-Lanaudière-Outaouais branch of the SFPQ, the most recent offer made by management has been rejected.
“[Management] has offered 13.50 per cent [salary increase] over five years and the employer removed the two statutory holidays granted in the October agreement. The offer was described as an insult to employees. Recall that the . . .
union’s negotiators had refused an offer of 13.25 per cent with the loss of one holiday out of two,” wrote Girard in an email THE EQUITY .
On Monday morning, the union decorated the outside of the MRC building with stickers, caution tape and signs. Girard also said there is an ongoing pressure campaign on the MRC to get more concessions.
“The strike seems almost inevitable and we hope that the employer does not force us to get there but we are ready,” said Girard.
He added that the union will not accept below a 14.5 per cent salary increase over five years with the two statutory holidays, in addition to what was agreed to in the October agreement.
Warden Jane Toller, who isn’t sitting at the negotiation table with union, said she is hopeful that negotiations will continue.
“The strike route isn’t what [the union] is taking right now. It is further negotiation. I feel we’re very close. I think that with further negotiation I’m confident that we will come up with a good resolution which of course will have to be ratified by the Council of Mayors,” said Toller about the dispute.
