MCK makes Labor Agreement available for viewing, issues clarification

10/23/2014

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that the Labor Agreement reached between the MCK and the Québec government on October 8, 2014 is now available for viewing at www.kahnawake.com .

Additionally, the MCK would like to issue a point of clarification on the matter of union affiliation in the Labor Agreement.

“As stated, the workers will have the choice to keep their union affiliation if they wish,” said Labor Portfolio Chief Rhonda Kirby. “The wording of the original press release was a bit ambiguous and may have given the impression that both the employer and worker had an option to be affiliated with a union. In these cases the employer actually has no such requirement. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.”

With this Labor Agreement, the Québec government will amend certain laws to address Kahnawà:ke’s specific needs in relation to the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center expansion project and works on the Mercier Bridge. It contains mechanisms that allow local workers and contractors to be recognized under Kahnawà:ke’s labor regime/ qualifications for work done on the Territory.

“This Agreement is important because it’s about the recognition of our jurisdiction and the creation of our own labor regime,” added Intergovernmental Affairs Portfolio Chief Lloyd Phillips. “While, obviously, the Hospital and Mercier Bridge works are the current issues, this also reflects the long-term positive relationship that’s been created with the province.”