After contract talks break down, Westmount blue collars launch general strike
Global News
Westmount's blue-collar workers union launched a general, unlimited strike Thursday morning, after saying contract negotiations broke down with the city on the island of Montreal.
On the island of Montreal, Westmount’s 124 blue-collar workers walked off the job Thursday morning after contract negotiations broke down, prompting the start of a general, unlimited workers strike.
“We are increasing the pressure, that is why we are on a general strike right now,” said blue-collar union spokesman Guillaume Dupont Croteau. “We will see by the day if Mayor (Christina) Smith can send back an answer to our offer.”
Dupont Croteau said the union and the city of Westmount last had a negotiating session on June 12. He claims the union submitted an offer to the city, but had not heard back in 10 days, which prompted the decision to launch a general strike.
Mayor Smith said the city respects the union’s right to strike. But she said the city has never walked away from the negotiating table, has never cancelled a meeting and is waiting for the union to return to the table to get a deal signed.
“I think the best way to get a deal that is fair for employees and that is fair for the residents of Westmount is to get back to the negotiating table,” Smith said. “The city is willing ready and able to sit down as long as it takes to get that deal signed.”
Neither side would go into any details about the finer points of the contract negotiations. But the union complained that the city offer – when taking into account inflation and cost of living increases – would see less in their pockets than they were making in 2019.
“Is it fair to get poorer? That is the question we are answering right now. It’s not fair to get poorer,” Dupont Croteau said.
Smith says the city’s offer is a generous one, compared to other cities on the island of Montreal. She says the city has conceded several points to the union, including formally recognizing them for the hard work they performed during COVID.
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