Five hundred employees at Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) have been locked out of their workplace. Management at the Canadian ski resort, located in Beaupré near Quebec City, took action last week after failing to reach an agreement with its unionized workers.

Mont-Sainte-Anne is part of a collection of Canadian ski areas owned by the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR). Other RCR resorts include Lake Louise in Alberta and Fernie in British Columbia.

Pay decrease threatened
Employees were barred from their workplace after reportedly refusing to agree to MSA’s request for decreases in pay and benefits. The situation heated up Wednesday, October 2 when employees decided not to vote on MSA management’s proposal presented to the union executive September 22.

A press release issued October 9 reports MSA management is requesting its unionized employees agree to decrease their pay for worked holidays and a reduction in the number of annual sick days from twelve to seven days. “With the actual level of salary costs Mont-Sainte-Anne can no longer remain competitive in the marketplace,” the release says.

“When we look at the history on labour relations at Mont-Sainte-Anne, the least one could say is that it has been rather difficult. The resort, our hotel partners and the entire community need stability that will allow everyone to think positively about the future.”

Bosses move in to fill key roles
The release says despite the lockout, operations remain “normal” at Mont-Sainte-Anne, which traditionally opens before the Christmas season. Twenty-one members of MSA’s management have taken over sales of season passes, along with MSA’s Fall gondola rides, camping, mountain biking and hiking operations. Golf course operation, lodging and fall foliage festival activities “are not involved in the current negotiations,” the release says.

[Source: Ski Press]