Construction sites across the Canadian province of Quebec were idle Monday (June 17) as thousands of workers went on strike after contract negotiations fell apart on the weekend.
Unions representing more than 175,000 residential, industrial and commercial construction workers say the problem for them was an attempt by the Quebec construction association to change the amount of overtime they would get for extra hours worked.
The unions also says they were being asked to agree to a 14-hour day and six-day work week at regular wages.
Lyne Marcoux, the chief negotiator for the provincial construction association, said Saturday that the union was negotiating through the media and intended to send workers into the streets.
The province of Quebec’s labour minister Agnès Maltais called on the unions and the construction industry association to go back to the negotiating table. She also said the provincial government would not intervene in the conflict.
More information:
CBC News – Quebec construction workers strike after negotiation breakdown – here
CTV News – Quebec construction sites idle as general strike begins – here
Alliance syndicale construction website (in French) – here
Association de la construction du Québec website (in French) – here
Ottawa Citizen – Quebec won’t introduce back-to-work legislation in construction labour conflict – here
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Update Friday, June 21, 2013:
After separate meetings with Quebec’s labour minister on Thursday, both union and management negotiators were set to go back to the bargaining table on Friday. More information here.
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