Latest news with #APCHQ

CTV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec residential construction workers sign agreement
A construction worker attaches a basket on a crane as they work on the rooftop of a residential apartment building in Levis, Que. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Residential construction workers are on strike. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) The Construction Union Alliance has ratified its collective agreement for residential construction workers with the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ). The union alliance, which represents the five unions in the industry, stated on Thursday that the tentative agreement received the support of 83.4 per cent of voting members. The APCHQ confirmed that employers in the residential sector 'overwhelmingly voted in favour' of the terms negotiated for the 2025-2029 collective agreement. 'The APCHQ welcomes the support of employers in the residential sector for this agreement, which demonstrates a desire for stability, predictability and continuity on construction sites, at a time when Quebec needs to build more, better and faster to respond to the housing crisis,' the Association said in a news release. The new collective agreement, which will come into effect on 27 July, provides for an 8 per cent wage increase upon signing for the year 2025. For 2026, 2027 and 2028, an arbitration board will be called upon to decide, based on the parameters provided, which are a minimum wage increase of 18 per cent for the total of the four years and a maximum of 24.35 per cent. 'We are continuing the arbitration process to represent our residential members effectively, in order to obtain wage increases that will not further widen the gap with other sectors of the industry,' said Alexandre Ricard, spokesperson for the union alliance, in a press release. The new collective agreement also provides for more flexible clauses relating to labour movements, increased travel and room and board expenses, and a 5-cent increase in the allowance for safety equipment in light residential construction. The two parties also agreed to set up a committee to discuss the attractiveness and retention of personnel in the residential sector. The tentative agreement between the union alliance and the APCHQ was reached on June 18, after a three-week strike. The residential sector was the only one of the four construction sectors that had not yet managed to renew its collective agreement. The other three — civil engineering/roadworks, industrial, and institutional/commercial — had managed to renew theirs before the 30 April deadline. The union alliance brings together the five union organizations in the construction industry, namely, in descending order of importance: FTQ-Construction, the Quebec Construction Union, the Quebec Provincial Council of Construction Trades (International), CSD-Construction and CSN-Construction. The Alliance therefore represents 200,000 construction workers, 63,000 of whom work in the residential sector. The APCHQ represents 28,000 companies working in residential construction or renovation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French July 17, 2025.

CTV News
19-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec residential construction strike comes to an end
A construction worker attaches a basket on a crane as they work on the rooftop of a residential apartment building in Levis, Que. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Residential construction workers were on strike. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) The unions representing Quebec's residential construction workers have reached a tentative agreement with the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ), ending the strike. Workers had been on strike since May 28. The APCHQ said in a news release that all pressure tactics will stop at midnight. The five unions under the Alliance syndicale de la construction and the APCHQ will ask their members to vote on the agreement in the next two weeks. If it is rejected, the strike could resume. The agreement includes an eight per cent salary increase from the moment it is signed and arbitration for the following three years. It also includes increased travel expenses, a higher allowance for safety equipment, the creation of a committee to improve staff attraction and retention, and relaxed rules for employees with fewer than 1,500 hours under their belt. 'The large mobilization, the commitment of the members and the openness of the negotiating committee made it possible to finally reach a negotiated agreement,' said Alexandre Ricard, spokesperson for the union alliance. Of Quebec's four construction sectors (civil engineering, industrial, residential, and commercial) the residential sector was the only one that had not managed to renew its collective agreement, which expired April 30. The APCHQ said it took into consideration the sector's specific realities and households' ability to pay. 'With the tentative agreement, a degree of predictability will be in place, allowing employers and workers alike to contribute to the construction of thousands of homes that Quebec needs,' it said in a news release.

CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec construction strike: L'Alliance syndicale files complaint for bad faith bargaining
Work stoppage is seen on a residential construction site in the Montreal suburb of Pointe-Claire, Que., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) L'Alliance syndicale de la construction says it is filing a complaint, alleging bad faith bargaining by the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ). In its complaint alleging a breach of the obligation to negotiate in good faith, the Alliance syndicale is accusing the APCHQ of conducting 'sham negotiations' without the real intention of reaching an agreement in principle for its collective agreement. The union also alleges interference and obstruction of union activities as contractors have allegedly offered workers wages higher than those provided for in the collective agreement with the aim, according to the union, of ending the strike. It will be up to the Administrative Labour Tribunal to decide on the matter after hearing the parties. Quebec's residential construction strike began on May 28. Approximately 60,000 of the 200,000 members of the Alliance syndicale work in residential construction. However, some construction sites remain active, with employees continuing to work despite the strike. Three other sectors of the construction industry renewed their respective collective agreements before the April 30 deadline: civil engineering/roads, industrial and commercial/institutional. – This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 16, 2024.

CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Demonstration held to mark the first week of the residential construction strike
Work stoppage is seen on a residential construction site in the Montreal suburb of Pointe-Claire, Que., on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) The Construction Union Alliance will mark the first week of the residential construction strike by demonstrating on Wednesday at noon in front of one of the APCHQ offices in Anjou. The Alliance represents around 200,000 workers in the construction industry through the five trade unions that comprise it. Approximately 60,000 of these workers are employed in residential construction. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. on May 28, after last-ditch negotiations between the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ) and the Alliance syndicale proved unsuccessful. However, discussions have not broken down; the parties have met since the strike began. No meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, however. A mediator has already been assigned to the case to facilitate discussions. The three other sectors of the construction industry reached agreements before the collective agreements expired on April 30. These are civil engineering/roadworks, industrial and institutional/commercial. In these three sectors, the wage increases obtained are eight per cent for 2025, five per cent for 2026, five per cent for 2027 and four per cent for 2028, for a total of 22 per cent over four years. The union alliance is demanding the same increases for heavy residential construction (five and six storeys) as in other sectors, i.e. 22 per cent. For light residential construction (four storeys and less), it is demanding 24.35 per cent in order to catch up. Wages are indeed lower in the residential construction sector than in other sectors of the industry. The gap varies depending on the trade. The Alliance cites wages that are 6.5 to 14 per cent lower in the residential sector, depending on the trade. Its slogan for these negotiations is 'equal pay for equal work.' For its part, the APCHQ is offering 18 per cent wage increases over four years. The Quebec Construction Commission has already pointed out that, even though the union alliance has announced a strike, under the law governing this industry, 'a worker may strike or continue to work, and an employer may close its site or continue its activities.' Union representatives are, therefore, visiting certain construction sites to raise awareness among their colleagues about the issues and union demands. Similarly, 'the obligation to hold a certificate of competence for workers and a licence issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) for employers remains in force,' the construction commission has reiterated. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 3, 2025.


CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Negotiations continue on day 3 of residential construction strike
The Alliance syndicale de la construction and the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ) are set to continue talks Friday as the residential construction strike enters its third day. The APCHQ and the Alliance syndicale met on Thursday afternoon in the presence of a mediator assigned to the case. Although no agreement was reached on renewing the workers' collective agreement, which expired on April 30, the two parties agreed to continue discussions. Unlike in other sectors, pay rises negotiated in the construction industry are not retroactive to the expiry date of the previous collective agreement. Three other sectors of the construction industry — civil engineering/roads, institutional/commercial, and industrial — settled their agreements before they expired. The wage increases are eight per cent for 2025, five per cent for 2026, five per cent for 2027 and four per cent for 2028. The Alliance syndicale brings together all the construction unions, representing 200,000 workers. Around 60,000 of them work in residential construction. – This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 30, 2024.