Tentative agreement reached between United Steelworkers, maple syrup bottler Citadelle

A bucket is shown hanging from the trunk of a maple tree to collect syrup. (CTV News/Luke Simard)

A tentative agreement has been reached between the United Steelworkers union and the Citadelle Coopérative de Sirop d’Érable regarding the renewal of their collective agreement.

Citadelle bottles maple syrup in Plessisville, Que. for approximately 2,000 maple syrup producers.

The Métallos union, affiliated with the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), represents about 100 workers.

An indefinite general strike was launched on March 18, after 72.3 per cent of workers rejected the employer’s offer.

The dispute centred on wage increases, the work environment and the duration of the collective bargaining agreement.

The union declined to disclose the terms of the agreement on Friday, saying it has to present the news to its members first, as is usually the case in such circumstances.

A general assembly is scheduled for next Wednesday to allow members to review the tentative agreement and vote on it.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 1, 2026.