Montreal United Blue-Collar Workers’ Union gets a new president

The Montreal Blue Collar Workers Union, CUPE 301, rally during a three-day strike in Montreal on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

The Montreal United Blue-Collar Workers’ Union elected a new president at a general meeting held on Wednesday.

The former president, Jean-Pierre Lauzon, was defeated. He has been replaced by Nicolas De Ciccio, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which is affiliated with the FTQ, confirmed on Thursday.

Lauzon held the position of union president for three years.

Elections were held for several union leadership positions, including those of vice-presidents and secretaries.

The new president has worked for the City of Montreal since 2011. De Ciccio said he was ready to get down to work.

“There is a lot of work to be done, but we are prepared to take on the great responsibility given the scale of the task. The blue-collar workers deserve it.”

The change of leadership within the union comes at a time when negotiations are still ongoing to renew the collective agreement between the City of Montreal and the relevant CUPE local.

The newly-elected leader has not granted any interviews as yet and has only issued a statement addressing his members.

“I wish to reassure them that the transition will be positive and take place as soon as possible. They will be promptly informed of the status of key issues, including the important negotiations currently underway with the City of Montreal.”

The dispute centres mainly on wages as the city is in a difficult financial situation. The union, for its part, says it refuses to allow its members to become poorer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 7, 2026.