Montreal's Plan to Cut 250 White-Collar Jobs Sparks Union Backlash
Montreal's white-collar workers are voicing strong opposition to the city's announcement of a plan to reduce its workforce by 250 positions this year. The union representing these employees argues that the move, part of a broader restructuring effort, was made without proper consultation and will inevitably affect residents, despite city officials' claims to the contrary.
Union Criticizes Lack of Consultation and Human Impact
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Syndicat des fonctionnaires municipaux de Montréal sharply questioned the city's decision, which is projected to save $16 million this year out of a total budget of $7.67 billion. Éliane Scofield Lamarche, president of the union, emphasized the human cost, stating, "Human beings are not numbers on a spreadsheet." The union added that the announcement has caused panic among city employees, describing the savings as "meagre" in comparison to the overall budget.
The union further contended that Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada did not campaign on promises of austerity and stressed that white-collar workers are essential to the city's operations. "Rather than making unilateral cuts, the city could have engaged in dialogue with the union to listen to its proposals for improving services to citizens," the union stated. "We know the work better than anyone."
City Defends Restructuring as Necessary for Modernization
Earlier on Wednesday, the city announced its intention to shrink the workforce by 250 positions, primarily through eliminating management roles and merging departments. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada explained that the decisions were difficult but necessary, part of a push to modernize municipal operations and make the city more flexible. "The decisions we're announcing today are not easy and were not taken lightly. Nevertheless, they are necessary," she said during the announcement.
The mayor justified the move by noting that the number of city employees has increased significantly in recent years, leading to an operational structure she described as "complex, rigid and very heavy." This, she argued, has created a disconnect between taxpayers and the services they receive. "The impression is that they're paying more and receiving less," Martinez Ferrada added.
The restructuring includes:
- Eliminating two assistant general manager positions
- Cutting seven senior management roles
- Merging departments, such as environment and ecological transition
- Eliminating the commissioners' office while retaining three individual commissioners for homelessness, Indigenous relations, and racism and systemic discrimination
City officials stressed that direct services to residents will not be affected, with no impact on blue-collar workers, police officers, or firefighters. At least half of current vacancies will not be filled as part of this plan.
Administration's Broader Goals and Timeline
Mayor Martinez Ferrada made this announcement as part of a series of measures to fulfill campaign promises within her first 100 days in office, which concludes on February 20. Among these pledges was to modernize municipal operations. The mayor has already committed to eliminating 1,000 city jobs over the next four years through a hiring freeze for white-collar workers and not filling vacant positions.
Claude Pinard, executive committee chair, who spoke alongside the mayor, clarified that the measures are not a reflection on individual employee performance. "This is not about assessing whether an employee is doing their job well," Pinard said, "but about determining whether the position they hold is directly aligned with the priorities of Montrealers."
A spokesperson for the mayor's office countered the union's claim of no consultation, stating that the administration did meet with union representatives before announcing the restructuring. The city of Montreal currently has 25,600 positions and approximately 30,000 employees, as some roles are filled by multiple individuals. The changes are expected to be implemented by April 20.
