Parties reach agreement on essential services at Hydro-Québec strikes

Hydro Quebec - FILE PHOTO (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

A hearing regarding the essential services to be maintained during two upcoming strikes at Hydro-Québec did not take place after all, as the parties reached an agreement on these services following all-night discussions that lasted until Friday morning.

The Administrative Labour Tribunal had summoned Hydro-Québec on Friday morning, along with representatives from two local chapters of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ: the chapter representing the 2,700 technologists and the chapter representing the 6,200 skilled trades employees.

The two agreements were reached less than an hour before the hearing began.

Both unions are set to go on strike starting in mid-May. In both cases, the strike will involve a refusal to work overtime.

Although the parties have agreed on which essential services to maintain, the final decision will rest with the Administrative Labour Tribunal. The tribunal must, in any case, determine whether the proposed list of essential services is sufficient to avoid harming public health or safety.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 8, 2026.