Around 300 workers at ArcelorMittal’s plant in Contrecœur, located in the Montérégie region, initiated an indefinite general strike on Saturday morning. The conflict with the multinational company has been fueled by demands for back pay, disagreements over the pension plan, and group insurance issues that have been lingering for months.
Yves Rolland, the steelworkers union representative overseeing the steel sector, emphasized the significant financial impact of the requested wage catch-up, which amounts to an average increase of five dollars per hour per employee since the last negotiation in 2020.
Following dissatisfaction with the employer’s proposed solutions, unionized employees decisively voted last Monday to authorize an indefinite general strike, with an overwhelming 97.2% in favor.
In a press release, Éric Piette, the president of Local 6951 of the United Steelworkers at the ArcelorMittal West Plant in Contrecœur, highlighted the workers’ demand for a pay adjustment proportional to the outstanding compensation owed.
The 300 employees at the West Plant in Contrecœur specialize in producing rebar, billets, and steel rods.
Despite efforts to reach a resolution, the negotiations fell through, leading to the decision for a strike. While the employees stand united behind their bargaining committee, ArcelorMittal management has yet to meet their expectations with their proposed solutions.
As of the latest update, there has been no official response from ArcelorMittal management to the requests for comment.
