Press release
Union victory: Tribunal rules in favor of SEU 800 against Precise ParkLink Inc.

Montreal, February 19, 2025 – This decision sends a clear warning to employers tempted to discriminate against unionized workers. The Tribunal administratif du travail recently ruled in favor of the Service Employees Union, Local 800 (SEU 800) in a case against Precise ParkLink Inc., the company responsible for parking management at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.

The ruling is unequivocal: the company illegally refused to hire three workers due to their union involvement. This classic case of anti-union discrimination raises serious concerns about the protection of workers during contractual transitions.

Case summary: a suspect exclusion from employment

In November 2022, Precise ParkLink Inc. won a contract to manage the airport’s parking facilities, replacing the previous provider, Indigo Parc Canada. As a result, all Indigo employees were laid off. While most were rehired, three workers were not—their common trait: active involvement in the union.

Despite their qualifications and proven experience, their applications were ignored. While the majority of former employees returned to their jobs under the new management, these three received no response from the employer.

Represented by SEU 800, the three workers quickly filed a complaint. Their argument was clear: they were deliberately excluded because of their union activism, a direct violation of Article 14 of the Labor Code.

The employer’s defense: a weak justification

Precise ParkLink Inc. attempted to justify its decision by claiming that its hiring criteria were based on objective factors, such as bilingualism, availability, versatility, and customer service skills.
However, these justifications did not hold up in court. Upon reviewing the facts, the Tribunal administratif du travail identified several troubling findings:

• No response to the applications of the three complainants, despite hiring employees with similar qualifications.
• Suspicious annotations on their application forms, suggesting bias against their union involvement.
• Inconsistent testimonies from Precise ParkLink Inc. representatives.

The verdict was clear: the company had violated the Labor Code.

“This ruling confirms that no employer can evade its obligations by excluding workers based on their union involvement. This is a significant victory for employees’ rights and justice in the workplace.” – M^e Philippe Viens, legal counsel for SEU 800.

A decision that could set a legal precedent

The Tribunal administratif du travail has ordered the immediate hiring of the three plaintiffs and will later rule on financial compensation for lost wages and benefits.

Behind every union battle, there are workers who bear the consequences of employer decisions. For Hugues Afriany, who was the president of the union unit, this ruling marks the end of a period of uncertainty and injustice: “It’s a relief to see justice recognize what we went through. We were unfairly excluded, and this decision finally sets the record straight.”

This SEU 800 victory could have a major impact on hiring practices during contractual transitions. It sends a clear message: Employers cannot exclude workers simply because they have defended their rights.

A strong signal for the protection of union rights

For the leadership of UES 800, this ruling is a major victory:
“This decision reminds employers that union rights are protected by law. It is an important step forward in defending workers during employer transitions. We remain mobilized to ensure that such injustices never happen again.”

This case is a powerful reminder that the union struggle is far from over—and that constant vigilance is essential.

Read the full decision (in French) here: https://bit.ly/DecisionPreciseParkLink