Blue-collar workers from Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal (CUPE 301), representing over 6,200 workers in Montreal, gathered in front of City Hall on Wednesday morning. This demonstration coincided with the impending approval of the municipal budget later in the day.
According to a union press release, the workers have been engaged in negotiations for months, criticizing the financial proposal put forth by the employer representatives, warning that it could lead to a decline in the well-being of municipal employees.
The collective agreement for the blue-collar workers expired on Dec. 31, 2024, and they plan to initiate a strike starting on Feb. 4 at 6 a.m., lasting until Feb. 5 at 5:59 a.m.
The union, part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and affiliated with the FTQ, boasts nearly 10,000 members, including around 4,600 employed by the City of Montreal. This strike would mark their first since 2009.
CUPE, with over 143,000 members in Quebec, represents approximately 70% of all municipal workers in the province, amounting to about 40,000 members.
CityNews has reached out to the City’s administration for a response but has not yet received a reply.
