Collective Bargaining Énergie La Lièvre – Conclusion of a Tentative Agreement

Dear Colleagues at Énergie La Lièvre,

 

I have the honor and pleasure of informing you that the union and the employer have reached a tentative agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement, which will cover the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2029. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the dedication of your negotiation team, which had to make difficult decisions while always keeping your best interests at heart. You can be proud of their work.

 

The tentative agreement in French only, can be downloaded here

 

Here are the key changes:

 

Contract Duration:

• January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2029.

 

Salary Increases:

• Compound effect of 18.95%
• 2025: +7.5%
• 2026: +3.25%
• 2027: +2.5%
• 2028: +2.25%
• 2029: +2.25%

 

Enhancements to Benefits

• Annual allowance of $250 to cover expenses not reimbursed by the group insurance plan (medications, dental, optical, etc.).
• Unused amounts can be rolled over for one additional year.

• Short-term disability insurance:

• Benefit: 70% of salary (unchanged), but the maximum weekly benefit increases to $1,800/week.

• Long-term disability insurance:
• Benefit increased from 55% to 60% of monthly salary, but the maximum benefit increased to $6,000/month.

 

Work Schedules & Compensation

• Overtime banking: taken in blocks of 4 or 4.5 hours.
• Adjustment and alignment of certain premiums to the hourly wage, including:
• Supervisor/ (NEW) Work Lead Premium: 5% aligned to hourly rate (instead of fixed amounts).
• Special working condition premiums aligned between 2% and 5% of the hourly wage (instead of fixed amounts).
• Standby premium increased by 4% IN ADDITION to the 7.5% economic increase.

 

Recalls & Standby

• Clarified what triggers compensation for on-site AND remote interventions or phone calls.
• Expanded the “sleep time” window.
• Possibility of resolving an issue by phone under certain conditions (minimum compensation of 1 hour).
• Meal allowance:

Increased to $22.50 (instead of $15) when the employer cannot provide a meal.

 

Other Changes

• Clarifications on travel time:
• Travel time is now compensated when recalled to the designated worksite.
• New employees: now possible to hire directly at level B-3.

 

??What’s Next??

YOU have the final say on your terms and conditions of employment. This agreement is subject to a secret ballot vote among the employees of Énergie La Lièvre, and details regarding the voting process will be communicated soon.

 

You will have several days to review it, and your negotiation team will be available in the coming weeks to present the agreement line by line and answer your questions so that you can make an informed decision.

 

An official invitation will follow.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact your negotiation team or myself if you have any questions about the upcoming process.

 

In solidarity,

 

Donald Dionne, Eastern Business Representative, for:

 

Jean-François Hébert – Énergie La Lièvre

Sébastien Miron – Énergie La Lièvre

Constantin De Guise – IBEW  2228