Montreal blue-collar workers allege systemic racism at work, demand compensation

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MONTREAL Blue-collar workers employed by a borough in Montreal say they are seeking compensation from the city after two reports earlier this spring revealed allegations of widespread discrimination against black and other racialized employees.

Céleste, a long-time worker in the Montreal-Nord borough who refused to give her last name for fear of reprisals, says blacks and other racialized employees in the neighborhood are being left behind because managers prefer to hire whites. He says he was excluded from training sessions, asked to do menial work below his seniority level and was subjected to racist comments at work.

The constant rejection and humiliation over the years has affected her sleep, her marriage and especially her morale. “It was like something had been taken away from me that I had inside of me,” Celeste said in a recent interview. “This spirit I had to succeed, to go further.”

About 40 racialized employees in Montreal-North have asked their union to file grievances for moral and other damages related to the loss of wages and benefits and for outrages upon their dignity, said Fo Niemi of the Center. research action on race relations in a recent interview. Niemi’s group supports workers in their quest for compensation from the city.

The union grievances follow the publication of two commissioned reports earlier this year revealing that black employees and other racialized people in the Montreal-Nord borough said they faced unfair hiring practices and discriminatory practices that prevented them from accessing better jobs and better wages.

Celeste and another longtime employee of the Montreal-Nord borough told The Canadian Press that they and their black colleagues were the victims of racist comments at work and denied the same opportunities as their white colleagues.

The City of Montreal has recognized the existence of systemic racism within its public service and says it is working with the borough to improve diversity and inclusion. In a recent statement, the city said it would support the borough in implementing all recommendations from both reports, adding that a diversity and inclusion advisor had been hired to oversee the process.

But Niemi and the workers say Montreal must do more than change its culture: it must compensate workers who are discriminated against. “If you are really committed to systemic racism, it is not about changing systems and policies, but also about supporting victims,” ​​Niemi said.

Luc Bisson, president of the Montreal blue collar union, confirmed that there had been grievances filed as a result of the reports, but he could not confirm their nature.

Celeste said that on two occasions he was discriminated against when applying for permanent jobs for which he was qualified in the Montreal-Nord borough. The first time around, he said, the post was removed and then reposted. In the second case, the post was reposted to include the qualifications it did not have. He went to a white employee who was less senior, he said.

The first report, commissioned by the city’s comptroller general and released in April, described a long-standing climate of tension among blue-collar workers. The workers “almost unanimously denounce unfair or discriminatory treatment,” reads the report written by Tania Sabia, an expert in industrial relations at the University of Montreal.

The second report, produced by an expert hired by the union, documented the same issues as the first. Written by Professor Angelo Soares of the University of Quebec at Montreal, the report concludes that the allegations of worker discrimination are “founded” and urges the City of Montreal, the borough and the union to take “urgent” measures to correct them.

Sabia’s report looked at the process of driving a heavy truck for the city, which is seen by workers as one of the best jobs in the district and the key to advancing in administration. . The borough, Sabia said, has required employees who wish to drive trucks pass a test involving backing up a truck with a trailer, even though that skill is not part of the job description, a requirement considered by racialized employees as a barrier.

A Haitian employee in the Montreal-Nord borough told The Canadian Press that many immigrants failed the course because they did not come from a cultural background where driving a trailer is common. “We had to tell the trainer that immigrants do not fish, do not hunt,” said the employee, who did not want to be identified because he feared reprisals, in a recent interview. “When we have free time, we do something else. It’s like expecting everyone to love hockey.

The employee said the borough was not offering to train employees to operate a trailer. As a result, the employee said, some Haitian workers have had to scramble to find someone outside of work to teach them or suffer the humiliation of failing the course and being permanently relegated to menial or physical work. such as emptying garbage cans.

A third borough employee, who is white, told The Canadian Press he was suspended by his employer after denouncing the unequal treatment of his colleagues. He confirmed that a group of employees are hoping for financial compensation.

Sabia made a number of recommendations, including that the city conduct a thorough review of internal relations in the borough. He also recommended that the City clarify the hiring process and ensure that all employees have equal opportunities to pass the courses offered to access certain positions.

While Sabia’s report noted that the city had made improvements to its processes, none of the three Montreal-North blue-collar workers interviewed by The Canadian Press said they had noticed any positive changes.

Celeste said that if he is successful in receiving compensation, he will consider quitting his job and moving out of Montreal to find better working conditions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 12, 2021.

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