Sides return to the bargaining table on Day 3 of Quebec construction strike
MONTREAL — An alliance of construction trade unions and employers’ groups returned to the bargaining table Friday as Quebec’s construction strike kept work sites quiet for a third day.
The negotiations resumed with a provincially appointed conciliator at the table, one day after Premier Philippe Couillard signalled he would begin the process of adopting back-to-work legislation Monday if there is no agreement.
About 175,000 workers launched the unlimited general strike on Wednesday, crippling activity on major projects such as the Champlain Bridge and a Montreal superhospital.
Work schedules and overtime are believed to be at the heart of the conflict in the industrial sector, while salaries are the main stumbling block in the residential sector.