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QUEBEC-Firefighters working for the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) across Quebec have voted 99% in favour of a strike as negotiations have stagnated since their previous contract expired on January 1, 2023.
SOPFEU forest firefighters negotiated non-monetary language in individual local negotiations which concluded in February 2024, and then all six local unions bargained as one unit to negotiate wages, meeting with the employer over the course of a dozen days.
Despite the determination of members to reach an agreement before this year’s wildfire season, wage increases, vacations, labour mobility, the duration of the agreement, as well as several other monetary items, remain unresolved, prompting the union to request the appointment of a conciliator.
Faced with this persistent impasse, Unifor members took the difficult but necessary decision to vote in favor of a strike mandate, which the bargaining committee can enact if needed.
"With the dreadful 2023 season likely to recur this year and in subsequent years due to global warming, our priority is to guarantee fair and safe working conditions for our members, who play an essential role in protecting our forest heritage from fire and thus protecting the municipalities and their populations that are close to a forest area,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.
“Through their work, they also safeguard the economy of many regions of Quebec. Unfortunately, SOPFEU does not seem to take the issue of retaining and attracting workers seriously, nor does it recognize the inherent health and safety hazards of this profession. We urge the Quebec government and SOPFEU management to seriously reconsider their positions and engage in constructive discussions to reach a mutually beneficial agreement."
About Unifor
Unifor is the largest private sector union in Quebec and Canada, representing over 320,000 members in all sectors of the economy. Unifor fights for all workers and their rights. It also fights for equality and social justice at home and abroad, and aspires to bring about progressive change for a better future. In Quebec, Unifor represents nearly 55,000 members and is affiliated with Quebec's largest central labour body, the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ).
For media inquiries, please contact Véronique Figliuzzi, Unifor Québec communications representative, at @email.
