Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Office workers at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery launch strike

Montreal Gazette - Yesterday 

Tombstones at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery.© Provided by The Gazette

Office workers at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery launched a 30-day strike on Tuesday saying they’re frustrated by dragging negotiations with their union.

“Exercising such a strike mandate is contrary to our mission and our dedication to our customers,” Éric Dufault, president of the Syndicat des employées de bureau du Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, said in a press release.

“The contemptuous attitude of our employer, which maintains a toxic work atmosphere, pushed us to where we are and only a radical change in culture on its part can convince us of (the employer’s) good faith.”

The union, which represents 17 employees, has been without a new contract for five years. The union contends the Fabrique Notre-Dame claims it has financial problems without backing up the claim and says it doesn’t have a mandate from its board of directors to come to an agreement with the union.

The union members unanimously voted for a 30-day strike mandate earlier in September.

The union said it’s seeking pay hikes for all office workers at the cemetery, whose salaries have been frozen for nearly six years, without revealing its exact list of demands.

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