Quebec construction workers protest as government set to table back to work bill

TThe Canadian Press

he Quebec government is set to introduce a bill forcing the province's striking construction workers back on the job by Wednesday, Labour Minister Dominique Vien said Monday.

Thousands of workers gathered in front of Quebec's legislature to voice their disapproval of the government's decision to end their strike after five days.

The back-to-work bill maintains current working conditions for the province's 175,000 construction workers and grants them a pay raise of 1.8 per cent.

It also opens an immediate five month mediation period after which the unions and construction companies will be required to enter into arbitration.

Members of the legislature are expected to debate the bill late into the night but the Liberal majority in the legislature will ensure it passes.

Vien said both sides had months to negotiate a new agreement and added that every strike day costs the Quebec economy $45 million.

“It is in the interest of all sides that they take this second chance,” Vien said of mediation period her government will impose.

Michel Trepanier, a spokesman for the coalition of unions, said the bill hurts workers' ability to negotiate.

He suggested the bosses of private-sector construction companies planned on going to arbitration from the beginning, “and they'll have a real good chance of winning.”

Eric Cote, spokesman for the construction companies' association, said the bill benefits workers, as it gives them the “gift” of a pay raise.

Opposition leader Jean-francois Lisee said it was disingenuous for the government to claim that both sides had months to negotiate a new deal.

He said power rests with the employer when both sides sit down early. Lisee said workers' can only fully leverage their negotiating position as the possibility of a strike mandate approaches.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said the entire process by which the private sector and construction unions negotiate contracts is “contaminated.”

“Why is it contaminated?” Couillard asked rhetorically. “Because both sides have gotten into the habit of sitting on their hands and waiting for the government to settle the issue for them. Well, that's not how it's going to end.”

The ongoing strike is the second such walkout in the Quebec construction industry in four years.