About us
The 800 brings together thousands of workers who believe that together, we can transform workplaces and build a fairer future. For nearly 80 years, our organization has defended the rights of its members with solidarity, perseverance and a strong connection to the people we represent.
Mission, vision and valuesOur Team
Executive Committee
General council
Insurance
Leadership
Women in Action
Marie Deschênes
President (interim)
418 627-8800 ext. 408 m.deschenes@ues800.orgQuebec
Education
Executive Committee
General council
Leadership
Cyntia Gagnier
Vice President of Administration
514 385-1717 ext. 225 c.gagnier@ues800.orgMontreal
Executive Committee
General council
Leadership
Philippe Viens
Executive Vice President (intérim)
514 385-1717 ext. 238 p.viens@ues800.orgMontreal
Education
Training and mobilization
Thao Dao
Activities Coordinator
514 385-1717 ext. 214 t.dao@ues800.orgMontreal
Communications
Véronique Barbara Viens
Communications
514 385-1717 ext. 260 v.viens@ues800.orgMontreal
Executive Committee
General council
Insurance
Women in Action
Lucie Thériault
Building Services President
For-Net inc.
Executive Committee
General council
Industries
Denis St-Pierre
Industries President
La Compagnie Normand Ltée
Education
Executive Committee
General council
Service and retail
Women in Action
Isabelle Morneau
Services, Commerces, Financial Institutions and Transport President
Claude et Marcel Martin Inc. (Lévis)
Education
Executive Committee
General council
Mark Quenneville
Support for Education President
C. S. New Frontiers
Executive Committee
General council
Textiles and hospitality
Mathieu Pépin
Textiles and Hospitality President
Sandman Hotel
Union council
Jacqueline Anciaes
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 257 j.anciaes@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Women in Action
Suzy Beaudry
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 270 s.beaudry@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Sophie Bourgeois
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 276 s.bourgeois@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Anthony Camara
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 222 a.camara@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Jessica Duffett
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 223 j.duffett@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Catherine Lavoie
Union representative
819 376-2800 ext. 212 c.lavoie@ues800.orgTrois-Rivières
Union council
Connor Lea Spencer
Union representative
819 711-2800 ext. 211 c.spencer@ues800.orgGatineau
Union council
Raynald Mercier
Union representative
418 627-8800 ext. 402 r.mercier@ues800.orgQuebec
Recruitment
Union council
Éric Morin
Union representative in charge of recruitment
418 627-8800 ext. 410 e.morin@ues800.orgQuebec
Union council
Women in Action
Sarah Côté Pilon
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 256 s.pilon@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Jean-Marc Simard
Union representative
418 699-0180 ext. 208 j.simard@ues800.orgSaguenay
Union council
Guillaume Thuotte
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 226 g.thuotte@ues800.orgMontreal
Union council
Pascale St-Antoine
Union representative
514 385-1717 ext. 255 p.stantoine@ues800.orgEstrie
Union council
Michel Tremblay
Union representative
418 627-8800 ext. 404 m.tremblay@ues800.orgQuebec
General council
Insurance
Jean-Philippe Duclos
Building Services Vice-president
GDI Services (Québec) S.E.C.
General council
Insurance
Carole Houle
Building Services Secretary
AXIA Services
General council
Insurance
Cynthia Soares
Building Services 1st Director
GDI Services (Québec) inc. / Industrie de maintenance Empire
General council
Insurance
Michel Boulanger
Building Services 2nd Director
Les Services Ménagers Roy Ltée
Education
General council
Luciano Santavicca
Support for Education Vice-president
Université McGill
Education
Education
General council
Jonathan Coté
Support for Education Secretary
C.S. Central Québec
Education
General council
Francesco Bartoli
Support for Education 1st Director
C.S. English-Montréal
Education
General council
Heartly Day
Support for Education 2nd Director
C.S. Lester B. Pearson
Education
General council
Scott Hewitt
Support for Education 3rd Director
C.S. Riverside
Education
General council
Service and retail
Pierre Michel
Services, Commerces, Financial Institutions and Transport Vice-president
Club de Golf Royal Québec
General council
Service and retail
Guy Lecours
Services, Commerces, Financial Institutions and Transport Secretary
Le groupe BellHorizon inc.
Education
General council
Service and retail
Michael Dikeakos
Services, Commerces, Financial Institutions and Transport 1st Director
Oratoire St-Joseph
General council
Service and retail
René Parent
Services, Commerces, Financial Institutions and Transport 2nd Director
Autocars Orléans Express inc.
General council
Service and retail
Cathy Belleville
Services, Commerces, Financial Institutions and Transport 3rd Director
Le Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec
Education
General council
Industries
Joanie Courcy-Fortin
Industries Vice-president
Les produits industriels de haute température Pyrotek inc.
General council
Industries
Tony Therrien
Industries Secretary
IPL inc.
General council
Industries
Michel Gagné
Industries 1st Director
Westrock Canada Corp.
General council
Industries
David Alain
Industries 2nd Director
Groupe environnemental Labrie inc.
General council
Industries
Michel Simard
Industries 3rd Director
CANMEC
General council
Textiles and hospitality
Jose Estrela
Textiles and Hospitality Vice-president
Jack Victor ltée
General council
Textiles and hospitality
Guy Boisvert
Textiles and Hospitality Secretary
Beaulieu Canada (Div. 3)
General council
Textiles and hospitality
John Vasiliou
Textiles and Hospitality 1st Director
Empire Clothing MFG Co
General council
Textiles and hospitality
Jocelyne Joseph
Textiles and Hospitality 2nd Director
9327-3308 Québec inc./Hôtel Quality Dorval
General council
Textiles and hospitality
Mrityunjoy Das
Textiles and Hospitality 3rd Director
Samuelson Ltd
Controller
General council
Jorge Camones
Controller
Les Services ménagers Roy Ltée
Administration
France Deschênes
Executive Assistant
514 385-1717 ext. 232 f.deschenes@ues800.orgMontreal
Administration
Aline Lada
Administrative Assistant
418 627-8800 ext. 401 secretariat@ues800.orgQuebec
Administration
Sylvie Cloutier
Financial Controller
514 385-1717 ext. 236 s.cloutier@ues800.orgMontreal
Administration
Myriame Diouf
Administrative Assistant
514 385-1717 ext. 215 secretariat@ues800.orgMontreal
Administration
Marlène Gauthier
Administrative Assistant
418 699-0180 ext. 209 secretariat@ues800.orgSaguenay
Administration
Tasha Legault
Administrative Assistant
514 385-1717 ext. 242 secretariat@ues800.orgMontreal
Administration
Zahia Kaddour
Administrative Assistant
514 385-1717 ext. 259 secretariat@ues800.orgMontreal
Administration
Julie Massé
Administrative Assistant
819 711-2800 ext. 210 secretariat@ues800.orgGatineau
Administration
Paola Modeste
Administrative Assistant
514 385-1717 ext. 263 secretariat@ues800.orgMontreal
Administration
Michelle Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
418 627-8800 ext. 412 secretariat@ues800.orgQuebec
Executive Committee
General council
Leadership
Cristina Cabral
President (temporarily absent)
514 385-1717 ext. 241 c.cabral@ues800.orgMontreal
History
For more than 80 years, thousands of workers have built the 800 through their struggles, solidarity and determination to improve their living and working conditions. Behind every collective agreement, every training session and every union victory, there are people who refused to settle.
And this story is still being written today.
First woman elected president
Cristina Cabral becomes the first woman elected to lead the 800. A new chapter begins for the union, driven by modernization, closer connections with members and new ways of communicating.
Major union growth
Under the leadership of Raymond Larcher, the union grows from 15,000 to 20,000 members, notably through the merger with the UTIS union in the clothing and textile sector.
A new head office
The union inaugurates its new head office during a conference bringing together 165 delegates.
The birth of the 800
Local 800 officially receives its charter to primarily represent private sector workers. This decision marks a major turning point in the union’s history.
Standing up against cuts
22,000 members of Local 298 take part in work stoppages opposing wage cuts imposed by the Québec government.
Solidarity at McGill
At McGill University, 400 members gain support from students and teaching staff during a labour dispute. Together, they succeed in securing job protection.
The Montréal Decree
After years of mobilization, the Montréal Decree covering public building maintenance comes into force. This milestone permanently improves the working conditions of thousands of workers.
The first Québec Decree
The first decree covering building maintenance workers is adopted in the Québec City region, protecting approximately 1,500 workers.
A union that evolves
The organization removes the word “building” from its name to become the Service Employees International Union, reflecting the expansion of the sectors represented.
A new momentum
Armand Jolicoeur becomes president of Local 298 and builds a team that will drive major union growth in the years that follow.
The beginning
Twelve elevator operators in Montréal obtain a union charter. It marks the beginning of the 800’s history.
International founding
The Service Employees International Union is founded in Chicago with 3,000 members.
Our committees
Women in Action
Mental load, work-family balance, violence, harassment, economic insecurity and inequalities experienced in everyday life: many issues still disproportionately affect women, both personally and professionally. The 800’s Women in Action Committee provides a space to share, reflect and take collective action around these realities.
Training
Union training helps members better understand their rights, build their knowledge and strengthen their involvement in the workplace. The 800’s Training Committee helps develop programming that is accessible, relevant and grounded in the realities workers experience every day.
Building maintenance Group Insurance
The group insurance plan plays an important role in the daily lives of many building services workers. The Building Services Group Insurance Committee helps monitor the plan and represent the interests of the members covered by it.
Resources
This section provides access to a variety of useful resources and references related to labour rights, union services and partner organizations.
Unionize
Unionizing means no longer facing workplace issues alone. Together, we have the power to improve our working conditions, defend our rights and build fairer workplaces.
Frequently Asked Questions About UES800
Your union representative is your main point of contact with the 800 in your workplace. They provide information about your rights, answer your questions, and support you when you encounter work-related issues.When your situation requires more specialized assistance, your union representative can also refer you to a union advisor or to the appropriate resources.Your union representative also plays an essential role in the union’s democratic life. They serve as a link between the members and the 800, communicate members’ concerns, and help ensure that information is shared throughout the workplace.
The 800 regularly prepares its financial statements in accordance with its governance rules and obligations. As part of its commitment to transparency, these statements are available to any member who wishes to consult them.
To obtain a copy, please contact Ms. France Deschênes, Executive Assistant, at the following email address f.deschenes@ues800.org
The 800’s Constitution and Bylaws are available to all members on the website. They outline the union’s governing rules, including its democratic structure, the responsibilities of its governing bodies, election procedures, and the rights and responsibilities of members.
At the 800, union dues are set at 1.75% of gross earnings, up to a maximum of $14.75 per week. They are deducted directly from your pay by your employer and are generally tax deductible.The amount of union dues is determined democratically by the members in accordance with the 800’s Constitution and Bylaws. Any change must be approved by the delegates at the Union Convention.Union dues help fund the services provided by the 800, including the negotiation of collective agreements, member representation, legal services, occupational health and safety, union education, the strike fund, and member mobilization activities.
Union dues enable the 800 to provide the services needed to protect and advance the rights of its members.
They help fund, among other things:
- The negotiation of collective agreements
- Representation in labour relations matters
- Grievance handling and arbitration
- Occupational health and safety services
- Legal services
- Union education and training
- The strike fund
- Representation and member mobilization activities
Union dues ensure that the union can defend the collective interests of its members and provide the services they rely on every day.
The 800 is a democratic organization whose structure allows members to participate in the decisions that affect their workplaces and their union.
At its foundation are more than 350 bargaining units. Each bargaining unit elects an Executive Committee to represent its members before both the employer and the union.
These bargaining units are organized into five workplaces:
- Building Services
- Industry
- Services, Retail, Financial Institutions and Transportation
- Education Support
- Textile and Hospitality
Each sector elects six representatives at the Union Convention. Together, they serve on the General Council, alongside the members of the Executive Committee, to establish the union’s strategic direction between conventions.
From among these representatives, one representative from each sector is elected to serve on the Executive Committee with the union’s officers. The Executive Committee is responsible for the governance and day-to-day administration of the 800.
Finally, the members also elect an Auditor to help ensure the transparency and accuracy of the union’s financial management.
This structure ensures that the 800’s decisions are made democratically and that members are represented at every level of the organization.
The 800 is a democratic organization led by its members. The union’s broad direction is established at the Convention, where elected delegates represent the various bargaining units and make the decisions that guide the organization.
Between conventions, the union’s affairs are managed by the bodies established under its Constitution and Bylaws: the General Council and the Executive Committee. Their members are democratically elected to represent the interests of workers and ensure the union’s effective governance.
Every day, the 800 stands alongside its members. It supports them in defending their rights, negotiating collective agreements, promoting occupational health and safety, handling grievances, providing union education, and assisting them with many other aspects of their working lives.
Above all, the 800 exists to represent, defend, and advance the rights of its members. Its strength depends on the commitment and active participation of the workers it represents.