Montreal police tentative strike deal with city over pension reform
The long-term labour dispute between the City of Montreal and its police union is coming to an end after the two parties announced Saturday they have reached an agreement in principle.
The agreement addresses contracts and pension plans, which were the main the sticking points during the labour conflict. Montreal police officers had been without a collective agreement since 2015.
Following an intensive round of negotiations over the past week, the deal also puts an end to three years of protests and pressure tactics by about 4,600 police officers — including donning colourful pants to protest the provincial government's municipal pension reform.
While both parties have not revealed the details of the agreement, the deal means that police officers have a contract and pension plan over the period of seven years, until December 2021. The agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015.
No more camouflage pants
Police officers were back in their regulation uniforms earlier this week toward the end of negotiations. The police union said ditching the pressure tactic was a way to reach out to the city while talks between both parties were going smoothly.
The pressure tactic had become a source of contention after officers donned colourful pants to the high-profile funeral for former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau in 2015.
In April, Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux tabled a bill aimed at to forcing officers to wear their full uniforms.
Officers who refused to comply with the the law would have faced fines ranging from $500 to $3,000 per day, but the Liberals were unable to pass the bill before the legislative session wrapped up this spring.
Both sides satisfied
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre welcomed the decision, saying that both parties "worked very hard" and that negotiations were carried out with open-mindedness and in good faith. He said the deal was a positive outcome.
The deal also comes shortly after Montreal firefighters reached a similar agreement in principle with the city, which hinges on benefits and pension reform.
The police union, for its part, said the deal was "the fruits of a difficult but successful negotiations" and that all pressure tactics used by officers will immediately stop.
