On July 16, the 230-member blue collar workers’ union at Parc Jean-Drapeau voted unanimously in favour of increasing pressure tactics, such as a general strike, following unsuccessful negotiations with the City of Montreal over a new collective agreement. The union voted on this decision a little over two weeks before Osheaga: one of Canada’s largest music festivals, held annually at Parc Jean-Drapeau and one of the busiest weekends of the year for the park’s workers.
“The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about peak season at Jean- Drapeau is the huge number of people that attend the many events held on the island.” says Meera Pande, U3 cultural studies and political science student at McGill. Every summer, Jean-Drapeau receives hundreds of thousands of visitors for major events, with music festivals such as Piknic Électronik, Palomosa, and Osheaga being especially popular. “Osheaga has always been an all-ages event, but definitely has a specific draw to students looking to make the most of summertime in Montreal.” Ahead of these festivals, you’ll most likely see students reselling last-minute tickets on social media or student clubs and organizations offering discounted tickets for specific events. Students’ lives are vibrant in anticipation of the rush that comes from seeing their favourite artists with their closest friends.
The pre-festival frenzy, however, looks a little different through the lens of the Parc Jean Drapeau workers. The Parc Jean-Drapeau union has been working without a contract since December 2023, when their collective agreement expired. Correspondingly, the union has been in negotiation with the City of Montreal over a new collective agreement. The union is represented by the Canadian Union of Protected Employees (CUPE), Canada’s largest worker’s union. A statement released by the CUPE stated that the 230 workers at the park have not received a pay raise despite increased inflation.
In an interview with the Daily, Pierre- Guy Sylvestre, an economist, CUPE negotiator, and staff member, mentioned that the negotiation table includes a mix of grassroots organizers, union representatives and lawyers. He describes how the union has been mainly focused on reaching a new contract with a wage increase that adjusts for inflation as well as back pay for the past two-and-a-half years workers have operated since the previous contract expired. “Sometimes odd double template here are tough negotiations where even after two years or so, there’s no back time pay [included in the agreement]. This is especially in the private sector. But here with the local section, 301 Blue Collars, the back time’s always going to be respected.”
When asked about what exactly increased pressure tactics can look like, Sylvestre stated that, “Preparing for a strike is very hard, so there are other pressure tactics [unions can apply]. Let’s say we’re working with office staff. Just wearing a t-shirt can really offend bosses. …. The best agenda [would be to] go to meetings and meet your members. Some unions don’t go see those members because they have this rank and file, but it’s too much order. A union is a human relations group, you know? You have to go see the members, you have to talk with them. For me, this is one of the best weapons of any social movement, especially for unions.”
The potential strike may not make waves among incoming and returning McGill students as most of the major Parc Jean-Drapeau events of the summer have come to an end, and students’ focuses are most likely directed to preparing for the upcoming fall semester. Many major Montreal strikes typically seem to go under the radar for university students unless work stoppages directly impact their day-to- day lives, such as the Fall 2025 STM strikes, the 2024 McGill law professor strikes, or the 2025 AirCanada flight attendant strikes.
Despite many McGill students only living in the city temporarily, student life is not isolated from Montreal’s labour economy. A report by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal found that in 2019–2020, over 173,000 students lived in Greater Montreal. The presence of students in the city was not only economically advantageous as a result of their spending, but also by promoting job creation. Hence, Montreal businesses have molded themselves to be as desirable to students as possible. In addition to the never-ending list of major events throughout Montreal, basic needs and extracurriculars often come at a lower price for students: museums and cinemas, transit fares, and even groceries are cheaper for students. There are hundreds of thousands of blue collar and service workers working day in and day out who make this city what it is. While apathy towards labour grievances is only disturbed once a strike shakes our routines, we students tend to forget that worker compliance is what allows us to enjoy what the city has to offer.
As of late, the union told CTV Montreal there is no strike plan. However, if and when one is announced, I urge McGill students to support the movement and stay informed in any way possible.
“We’re everywhere that’s going to [include] a social fight: equity for women and men, or any kind of discrimination against a group,” stressed Sylvestre. “Unions like CUPE and our allies, we ally together and we fight.”