The negotiation process has slowed since the last message was sent in November due to force majeure.

On December 12, we resumed negotiations with the employer.

On the agenda, there were two parts; the first consisting mainly of normative elements to update our employment contract with the realities of a 705, and the second part concerning the number of GDOs/vacations, salaries, per diems, the duration of the agreement as well as a possible retroaction.

The employer insisted on their intention to start by addressing the second part before addressing the first since this is already the 3rd time they have returned to the negotiating table (we are the 4th committee since the current agreement's expiration).

We presented them with what we had in mind to open the discussion on these subjects. Their response surprised us. In their view, our offer is far from what they can offer, so they refused to present a counteroffer. Instead, they will consult the higher-up departments to request a larger envelope. Given that the holidays are coming up very quickly, there is no guarantee of having a response before the end of the year. With this response, we see two possibilities:

• They will return to us with a counteroffer, and we will continue negotiations.
• They judged it was no longer worth negotiating and that we would proceed with the other avenues.

We heard from you last September about the reasons for the refusal of the proposed agreement, and we refuse to come back to present you with a second agreement without settling these points. We are still optimistic that we will obtain fairer working conditions with the employer, reflecting our added value and the sacrifices the group undergoes daily during our operation. This remains a challenge given the nature of our operation and the difficulty of comparing our business model with other companies, and therefore, remaining realistic is an exercise in itself. We are convinced that an agreement is still possible, so we will keep the communication channel open. We represent the interests of the group, and we hope to be able to count on each of you 100% in our pursuit, regardless of the chosen recourse. Do not hesitate to share your points of view with us.

Wishing you all happy holidays from your MEC.

In unity,