Montreal's CUPE Local 301 Strikes for Higher Wages

0:00It's March 27th. This is Canada News Today, driven by AI. Montreal's blue collar workers are gearing up for a three-day strike from April 15th to 18th. The move by over 6,000 members of CUP E. Local 301 ramps up their fight with the city over pay raises in a new contract. This follows a 24-hour walkout back in February. The first such action by these workers since 2009. Their old deal expired last December, and talks for a replacement kicked off in February. The union calls the city's proposed 11% hike over five years way too low, saying it ignores the daily grime in these workers' handle to keep. The city running. They've been showing up at council meetings and news events to push their case. Essential services like cleaning public areas, water and sewer work, plus big road fixes, will stay up and running just like during the last strike, thanks to a ruling from Quebec's labor board. Negotiations continue with two meetings a week through April, and both sides say they're

1:00open to a deal if the city budget is more in wages.