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Ten Local 4511 members employed by Kia Longueuil learned yesterday morning that they had been suddenly locked out by the employer.
Local union representatives had been working since May to renew the collective agreement on behalf of this group of employees. The previous labour agreement was imposed by an arbitrator after two and a half years of procedures following the unionization of the Kia Longueuil employees in March 2013.
After only four bargaining sessions with the employer, Groupe Auto Longueuil, it is clear that the talks have reached an impasse. In addition to attacking the gains made in previous negotiations, the employer is looking to impose a four-year wage freeze.
Despite the steps taken by the union to break the deadlock, including appointing a conciliator, the employer is refusing to listen to reason and declared a lock-out before the first conciliation meeting could even take place.
“The workers are united and ready to make it through this lock-out,” declared Local 4511 representative Félix Bélanger. “All they are asking is for the employer to come to its senses and negotiate seriously so they can obtain a fair collective agreement.”
