Principles of the agreement have been officially approved
In a significant development, the Construction Industry Alliance (Alliance syndicale de la construction) and the Quebec Association of Construction and Housing Professionals (APCHQ) have reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement for the residential construction sector. The agreement, set to take effect on July 27, 2022, spans the period from 2025 to 2029.
The renewed agreement, ratified by both parties, provides for an 8% wage increase for workers in the residential sector for the year 2025. For the subsequent years, 2026, 2027, and 2028, the wage increases will be determined by an arbitration board, with a minimum total increase of 18% and a maximum total increase of 24.35% over the four years.
The agreement aims to provide stability, predictability, and continuity on construction sites amid the housing crisis in Quebec. It also includes a relaxation of clauses related to labor mobility and enhances travel and accommodation expenses for employees in the residential sector. Furthermore, there is a 5-cent increase in the safety equipment allowance for light residential work.
The Alliance, which represents five labor organizations in construction, including the significant FTQ-Construction, represents approximately 200,000 construction workers, with 63,000 working in the residential sector. The APCHQ, on the other hand, represents 28,000 companies engaged in residential construction or renovation.
The principle agreement was reached on June 18, after three weeks of strike, following which the Alliance received the support of 83.4% of its members who voted during the voting period. The APCHQ expressed its appreciation for the adhesion of employers in the residential sector, stating it demonstrates a desire for stability, predictability, and continuity on construction sites.
Alexandre Ricard, spokesperson for the Alliance syndicale, stated that they will continue to work in arbitration to properly represent their residential members and obtain wage increases that will not further widen the gap with other sectors of the industry. A committee has also been established to discuss the attractiveness and retention of personnel in the residential sector.
This agreement reflects a collaborative effort to address Quebec’s housing challenges by ensuring fair wages and labor stability in the residential construction sector across the 2025-2029 period. The residential sector was the only one of the four construction sectors that had not yet renewed its collective agreement before the April 30 deadline.
The collaborative agreement reached by the Construction Industry Alliance and the Quebec Association of Construction and Housing Professionals aims to provide stability and continuity in the residential construction sector, addressing Quebec's housing challenges. This partnership also covers the finance aspect by specifying wage increases and safety equipment allowances for workers within the business sector of residential construction.
