Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery wants to see labour dispute end

The Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal’s negotiating team met with representatives of the unions representing its operations and office employees on June 2, in the presence of the head conciliator. The Fabrique presented them with a global settlement offer, which the two cemetery unions rejected.

Montreal, June 6^th 2023

The Fabrique never refused the conciliator’s proposal. We decided to present a global settlement offer to both unions to get employees back to work as quickly as possible so that we can resume providing all our services to the bereaved and the families of the deceased.

For many years our employees have received a total remuneration package (salary and benefits) that is more generous than that offered by other Quebec cemeteries. This remuneration includes the following:

· Average base salary	Over $30.50/hour
· Average annual salary in 2021	$68,249 (incl. overtime) Operations
· Workweek	4 days – 37.5 hours paid for 36 hours worked
· Vacation	6 weeks (30 days) after 20 years
· Statutory holidays	15 days (10 public holidays + 5 bank holidays)
· Sick days	1 per month – 12 days per year, redeemable for cash
· Task-related bonuses	About ten, indexed annually
· Pension plan	Defined benefit with contributions: · Employees: 5% to 7% · Employer: 18.6% (up to $14,000/ year)
· Comprehensive insurance program	Medication, dental, disability, life insurance, therapeutic care services, psychologist, etc. · Employees 34% · Employer 66%

Our global settlement offer includes the following:

· Office employees job floor

15 regular, 6 seasonal, no layoffs

· Operations employees job floor

47 regular, 44 seasonal, no layoffs

· Annual salary before overtime

o Regular empl. (maintenance, burial)

o Seasonal empl. (lawn) 36 weeks

· Salary increases

$59,611 (2018) to $83,000 (2027)

$38,461 (2018) to $53,400 (2027)

+20%

The Cemetery unions’ demands for a pay rise exceed 30%, double that provided for in the agreement reached with the Notre-Dame Basilica employees’ union on May 30, 2023.

The unions know that the Cemetery’s maneuvering margin is limited given its current deficit situation and that it wants to re-establish a good working climate. So, we’ve asked the two unions to present our global settlement offer to their members and hold a vote.

The Cemetery is a non-profit organization (NPO) whose revenues derive mainly from the bereaved and the families of the deceased. That's why the Cemetery is seeking agreements that will enable it to resume its activities and ensure its long-term sustainability.

For more information, visit cimetierenotredamedesneiges.ca/en