If temperatures in the Montreal area continue to see spikes above 30°C (near 40°C with the humidex) residents on the South Shore could be in trouble if they're looking for a way to cool off.
The city of Longueuil and employees at public pools are in a contract dispute, with union representing 265 workers saying if the situation doesn't improve there could be a strike.
"The situation involves 25 pools (including the Charron Island beach), which are extremely crowded in the summer" said the Canadian Union of Public Employees in a statement. "These employees have been without a contract since the end of 2015."
At a general meeting last week, aquatic sector employees voted 95 per cent to reject their employer's contract offer.
"The main disputes involve, among other things, the City’s refusal to provide work clothes and cover the cost of mandatory training to keep certifications up to date" the union said. "The systematic refusal of requests for annual leave is also problematic."
The statement also calls facilities "obsolete" with a lack of adequate work tools and protective equipment.
"These conditions endanger both the employees and the citizens," said Stéphane Simard, the Longueuil Vice-President of SREM-SCFP 306.
For its part, the city of Longueuil said it is doing all it can to ensure citizens can continue to safely cool off during these hot summer days.
The city said the next round of contract talks in scheduled for July 26.