Montreal, June 29^th 2023

The settlement recommendation outlines guaranteed employment floors for both groups of employees, wage increases of 23% until 2027, the duration of the collective agreements, which would expire December 31, 2027, and the submission of a joint petition to the Ministry of Labour aimed at improving labour relations.

The recommendation signed by the parties states that the union unanimously undertook, in the presence of the chief mediator/conciliator, to present this recommendation to their members at a general meeting on June 28, 2023, and strongly recommend its acceptance.

It was also agreed that the unions would stop pressure tactics and keep the content of the recommendation confidential until it was presented to their members at a general meeting.

A return-to-work protocol, with the usual provisions, was also submitted to the unions on June 15, 2023. The unions asked for two separate protocols and resumed their pressure tactics, including repeated picketing in front of the homes of several volunteer administrators. They also submitted several new, unexpected monetary demands, and further intervention by the chief mediator/conciliator was required to enable an agreement to be reached on the return-to-work protocols.

“Today, we address the leaders of the CSN and the Presidents of the operations and clerical staff unions, Patrick Chartrand and Éric Dufault. In the presence of the chief mediator/conciliator, you signed the settlement recommendation. Today is June 29. You can and must resolve this conflict, which has gone on for too long, by honouring your commitments. We’ve gone above and beyond to make you the best possible offers. We’ve accepted the mediator/conciliator's settlement recommendation and will honour our commitment. Now, we need to finalize the agreements and resume cemetery activities as soon as possible to respect the bereaved families and those of the deceased,” says Michel St-Amour, Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame volunteer administrator.

“We won’t be able to resume discussions with the unions or meet with the chief mediator/conciliator as long as striker intimidation and harassment and other pressure tactics against Cemetery management and volunteer administrators continue. It is essential that the CSN and the presidents of our two unions take stock of the situation and act accordingly. Good faith, honesty and respect must take priority so that our agreements are finalized,” says Michel St-Amour.

Until agreements are finalized, the Cemetery must remain closed and the planned clean-up of the grounds to make them safe for the families of the deceased must once again be postponed.

We regret the impact of these decisions on bereaved families and the families of the deceased. We will continue to offer bereaved families cremation and burial services in crypts and mausoleums, as well as the reception of caskets in our repository. However, in-ground burials will have to be postponed.

As requested by the Minister of Labour, this labour dispute must end as soon as possible.