Important tentative agreement reached between Hydro-Quebec and a union representing 5,500 members

A tentative agreement has been reached between Hydro-Quebec and the second-largest union, which represents specialists and professionals.

This local branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, represents 5,500 members within the Crown corporation.

The tentative agreement will be submitted to the members at general meetings as soon as possible, CUPE announced on Friday.

The content of the agreement has not been disclosed, as the union is giving its members the first look, as is usually the case in such circumstances.

These union members had begun to exert pressure by refusing to work overtime. These pressure tactics will “cease immediately,” the union said.

The collective agreement had expired in December 2024.

The dispute centred on the use of subcontractors.

The union wanted to keep expertise in-house and protect its members’ jobs, while Hydro-Quebec said it needed flexibility to adapt to changing situations.

CUPE said that two other tentative agreements to renew collective agreements had been reached with two of its other locals, one representing dispatchers and the other representing professional and office staff.

Hydro-Quebec has 10 union certifications, most of which are with CUPE, affiliated with the FTQ.

Hydro-Quebec management had not yet commented at the time of writing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 19, 2025.