Striking Quebec construction workers have rejected a last-minute deal put on the table Sunday afternoon by the Quebec Construction Alliance (ACQ).
The ACQ made the final offer after a 48-hour negotiation blitz and gave the Alliance Syndicale, an umbrella organization grouping together several unions representing striking construction workers until 4 p.m. to respond.
The construction companies, represented by the ACQ, had described the now rejected proposal, as “win-win,” as it took into account work-life balance, a key demand from the unions.
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Under the deal, salaried employees would have benefited from a four-day week, the ACQ said in a statement, adding it went above and beyond what the unions requested.
In terms of salary increases, the ACQ was offering a 1.85 per cent increase the first year and two per cent for subsequent years.
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Meanwhile, the Philippe Couillard government has recalled all MNAs to the National Assembly in order to table back-to-work legislation Monday morning.
Quebec’s Labour Minister Dominique Vien had expressed hope the legislation would not be necessary, and that both sides involved in the dispute could come to a mutual agreement.
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For its part, the Alliance Syndicale threatened legal proceedings come Monday morning against the ACQ, arguing negotiations were made in bad faith.
The alliance has planned a major protest in front of the National Assembly Monday to denounce the government’s proposed back-to-work legislation.
Some 175,000 construction workers have been off the job since Wednesday after declaring a general unlimited strike.
— With files from The Canadian Press