Making as much noise as possible, hundreds of firefighters gathered outside the Montreal Fire Department on Mount Royal on Friday. They were protesting the department’s recent decision to suspend and even fire some of their colleagues who played a role in the ransacking of City Hall last August. Those firefighters were protesting Bill 3, which will require firefighters to pay more into their pensions.
Following the events at City Hall, six men were fired, and dozens more suspended, including union president Ronald Martin.. But he says it’s ordinary firemen, not union executives, who are behind Friday’s protest.
“The message came from the members — that’s special, it’s the first time,” said Martin.
Firefighters currently contribute 30 per cent into their pensions, with municipalities paying the rest. Bill 3 would raise that amount to 50 per cent. Firefighters were joined by members of other municipal unions also affected by Bill 3.
“We’re in the same battle against the government, against pension plans,” said Marc Rangers, spokesperson for the Municipal Unions Coalition.
The Montreal Fire Department says the situation is unfortunate, but that it was left with little choice after the events at City Hall.
“We put an emphasis on respect in the workplace,” said Richard Liebmann of the Securite Incendiare de Montreal. “We have a zero tolerance policy for intimidation and harassment so we have to make sure our actions and our words are coherent. What happened at City Hall was very unfortunate. People did cross the line.”
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As the protest went on, firefighters marched all the way up to the fire department, where a group of police officers waited. The protest remained peaceful, but the fire department says the two sides must find a way to communicate.
“We understand they’re responding to the situation, but we’re trying to keep open dialogue going and it’s with an open dialogue that we can make progress,” said Liebmann.
“It’s going to be a long fight because after that we’ll see what’s going to happen with projet de loi trois. But it’s not the end,” said Martin.
Firefighters say they’re not willing to make any concessions regarding their pensions. Another anti-Bill 3 protest is planned for next week.
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