Quebec Construction Workers Strike Ends.

02 Jul 2013

The construction workers strike in Quebec, which has been going on for two weeks had ended. It ended after an emergency session of the National Assembly which lasted for marathon 13 hours.

The voting by the members of the national assembly took place after the midnight sending Quebec’s 77,000 industrial and commercial construction workers back to their respective job sites.

The Parti Québécois government was forced to compromise by opposition Liberals and Coalition Avenir Quebec , on the extension of contract to one year as against the last contract for four years and give them an 8.6 per cent raise over that period.

CAQ leader François Legault said “We are happy to have a minority government tonight,” he said late Sunday night.We were able to get the support of the Liberal party to our proposal, and we were able to have the government change its mind.”

Liberal leader Philippe Couillard said the move would force both sides to work faster to reach a settlement — if the PQ takes the appropriate steps.

“My advice to the government is, in the coming days, they must start being much more active,” he said.Not being involved in the nitty-gritty negotiations, but providing an environment that will make a settlement more likely.”

Although Premier Pauline Marois is of the opinion that said one year is not nearly long enough to resolve some major differences on issues like labour mobility but she said she was happy the strike would end.

The agreement gives the employees a 2 per cent raise over the next year.

However, Yves Ouellet, spokesman for the alliance of unions representing Quebec's construction workers, says he is extremely and criticized Quebec's MNAs and their back-to-work legislation.

"I'm extremely disappointed," he said at a Monday afternoon news conference in Anjou.

"The special law removes the right to strike."

He criticized the government, saying it folded to the interests of the likes of Quebec employers' group le Conseil du patronat.

"The debate at the national assembly was one of the worst ventriloquist performances I've ever seen in my life," Ouellet said.

The back-to-work legislation comes with stiff fines for any individuals or groups that disobey the ruling.

Ouellet said construction workers will respect the law.

Construction sites are set to resume operations as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/07/01/montreal-quebec-national-assembly-special-meeting-back-to-work-construction.html