On June 5, the Personnel de soutien et administration (PSA) unit of the Syndicat des employé(e)s de la recherche de l’Université de Montréal (SERUM) and the employer officially signed our new collective agreement.
“We’re satisfied with our discussions throughout the bargaining process. However, remote work rights and protecting jobs remain priorities for future collective agreement bargaining rounds,” says SERUM president Hélène Richard. “We stand ready to defend our members’ rights.”
In mid-April, after extensive negotiations, the tentative agreement covering the period from 2024 to 2030 was put to the membership for ratification using a hybrid voting model.
“This agreement addresses the concerns of SERUM members and makes meaningful advances on several economic and social fronts. It’s the fruit of the bargaining team’s dedicated efforts and a collective desire to improve working conditions over the long term,” adds Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec.
Highlights of the tentative agreement
- 6 year contract (2024–2030) with guaranteed wage increases:
- 2024: 3.3%, 2025: 2.6%, 2026: 2.5%, 2027: 3.5%, 2028: 1%, 2029: 1.25%
- These increases will match the guidelines of the Ministère de l’Éducation if they are more advantageous, and they may include an additional 1% in the event of higher inflation (2025–2027).
- Key advances for the union:
- Guaranteed union release time for the president in case of job loss (up to 24 months)
- Possibility to transfer unused days of union release time between units
- Improved language on union representation in disciplinary action
- Work-life balance improvements:
- Improved maternity, paternity, adoption and family leave
- Expanded medical leave related to pregnancy to include the normal work week; can be taken in daily or hourly increments
- Improved reduced schedules for full-time employees
- Innovative provisions:
- Standby pay
- Compensation for employer-required travel
- Specific provisions for statutory holidays and the holiday season
- Ongoing Training Committee
- Cash advances
- Retirement:
- Supplemental Pension Plan: 58 years old with 20 years of service or 60 years old with 15 years of service (article 38)
- Other improvements:
- Retroactive pay calculated at signing for existing employees on the date of ratification
- Holiday pay for part-time employees increased from 5% to 6%
- Improved conditions for temporary employees
- Recognition of part-time multiple employment
- Pay equity assessment during the agreement term
- List of physician-arbitrators
- Expected start of next bargaining round: 1 year before agreement expires
PSAC‑Quebec and SERUM celebrate this agreement as an important step towards recognizing and valuing administrative and support staff at Université de Montréal.