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Le Massif in Quebec’s Charlevoix region will reopen its mountain to skiers Saturday following the end of a three-week-long unlimited strike by its unionized employees.
Union members voted 91 per cent in favour of a contract proposal presented by the conciliator Thursday afternoon.
In an emailed statement, Le Massif de Charlevoix said staff will return to work Friday and the mountain will resume operations the following day. It acknowledged the contribution of the conciliation team, whose efforts enabled the parties to reach common ground.
“Reached under tight timelines, the agreement addresses the concerns of both parties and makes it possible to preserve the winter season,” read the statement.
A conciliator was appointed on Tuesday by the Labour Ministry due to an impasse in negotiations.
“We’re looking ahead,” said workers’ union president Annick Simard in an emailed statement.
She said she’s extremely pleased with the agreement and is looking forward to reopening the mountain.
She noted that the last few years have been marked by skyrocketing inflation. The new collective agreement provides for an inflation protection mechanism, according to the union. It would allow for wage increases to be enhanced if the price index exceeds the negotiated raises.
It’s a considerable increase, said Simard, speaking with reporters after the vote. The agreement provides cumulative annual increases totalling 19 per cent over five years.
“We wanted better working conditions, a better salary, that’s what the members wanted and that’s what we got,” she said.
‘It’s a relief,’ says business owner
On Monday, Le Massif shuttered its ski area for the season after failing to come to an agreement with unionized employees on a new contract.
Over the course of several weeks, businesses and mayors called the closure of the mountain a catastrophe — pointing to dwindling tourism levels and the effect on the local economy.
L’épicerie du village owners Stéphane Coutu and Lison Harrisson said they received a personal call from Le Massif management telling them the good news. The grocery store owners, operating their business just a few kilometres from the ski hill, say the mountain is an unofficial business partner.
Lison Harrisson and Stéphane Coutu own a grocery store in town and said the cancellation of the ski season weighed heavily on the business. (Emmanuel Do Prado/CBC)
During the strike, their parking lot and store remained empty.
“It’s a relief” said Coutu. “We’re preparing for the winter season and hoping there hasn’t been too much damage, but we’re staying positive.”
Serge Bilodeau, the mayor of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Que., — home to Le Massif — says the village is hoping to catch up on the tourism they lost during the strike.
“We are back in business,” he said.
On Thursday afternoon, Simard said the union is aware of the opinions of those who may have felt the effects of the strike over the past few weeks.
“That wasn’t our goal either, that the mountain closed,” she said.
But the season is not over, says Simard, pointing to the fresh snow.