Laval, May 6, 2021 – The 160 city drivers at Groupe Guilbault obtained wage increases even before the collective agreement expired.
The employer raised the hourly rate of its professional drivers by $1.89/hour to $24/hour, effective next Monday. Workers will see their evening premium increase from $0.50/hr to $1.50/hr and for those who work at night from $0.75/hr to $2.50/hr.
These are substantial increases for these members of Teamsters Local Union 106.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have been asking transportation companies to increase truckers’ wages because truckers ensure the well-being of society as a whole,” said Jean Chartrand, president of Teamsters Local Union 106. “Groupe Guilbault executives had assured me that they would do so and I appreciate that they kept their promise.”
A role to be played by governments
Teamsters believe that Ottawa and the provinces have a role to play in ensuring decent conditions for all transportation workers, whether they are unionized or not.
“The so-called labour shortage in the trucking industry is based on poor working conditions,” points out François Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada. “If we stop exploiting drivers, put an end to the ‘truckers inc.’ tax avoidance scheme and create better training programs for apprentices, the industry will become attractive again. “
Long driving hours are also a barrier to attracting recruits to the industry. Our society has changed; workers no longer necessarily want to spend the vast majority of their lives behind the wheel, away from their families.
“We must collectively show leadership and vision in order to restructure the trucking industry,“ concluded François Laporte. “We invite all levels of government to act on this issue.”
The Teamsters Union represents the interests of 125,000 members in Canada. They are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has 1.4 million members in North America.
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For more information :
Stéphane Lacroix
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Teamsters Canada
Cell: 514-609-5101
[email protected]
