Brothers and Sisters:
Your Teamsters Bargaining committee met your employer in Quebec City for negotiations November 15th through 18th when negotiations slowed and the meetings broke off.
Although many language issues have been resolved, there is still a lot of distance between the parties on the major issue of subcontracting. Monetary items such as vacation and personal days, health and welfare benefits, retirement and wages also remain outstanding.
Therefore, in accordance with the Canada Labour Code, we will be applying for Federal Conciliation this month. This is a required government process that offers a mediator’s assistance, but also sets forth a statutory time frame to follow before a strike or lockout can be initiated. The time has come to start the clock and press your employer to settle up important language issues and seriously deal with the monetary aspect of this set of negotiations.
By law, there may be no strike or lockout during the 60-day conciliation process, and no strike or lockout during a 21-day cooling-off period immediately thereafter. These time frames can be extended by mutual consent. Without an extension, a strike or lockout may be initiated with 72 hours notice.
We have tentatively set the week of January 10th through the 14th 2022 to resume negotiations and hope to have the Ministerial decision and the appointment of a mediator for these meetings.
A reminder that our collective agreement expires on December 31 but will remain in full force until a settlement is reached or a strike or lockout occurs.
We will update you on the status of negotiations at the end of the next week of bargaining.
With solidarity will come a good contract.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact your Local Union.
François Laporte
Président de Teamsters Canada
Richard Eichel
Directeur
Division des colis de Teamsters Canada
