Press release
The Board of Trade calls for an end to illegal walkouts
at construction sites
Montréal, October 25, 2011 – With the start of hearings of the committee on Bill 33, tabled by Minister of Labour Lise Thériault, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is condemning the wave of walkouts at construction sites in Quebec and encouraging the government to stand firm in the face of illegal actions.
“The job actions by unions in recent days is an act of economic sabotage that, if it were to continue, would jeopardize a number of construction sites that are important for the city and the province,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Every day the sites are at a standstill costs a great deal of money, not only to businesses, but also to taxpayers and Quebec society as a whole. Public authorities must act. It’s a matter of the city and the province’s economic vitality and the image we project beyond our borders.”
“We should be proud of our construction industry, our workers and our businesses,” Mr. Leblanc said. “Unfortunately the current system creates major irritants and blemishes our reputation as builders. Bill 33 promises to rectify the situation by improving how the construction industry operates and replacing union assignment to work sites with a fairer, more transparent process.”
“Stakeholders will all have the opportunity to be heard by the parliamentary committee,” Mr. Leblanc said. “We believe that we have to listen to the arguments of all players and engage in a rational debate to avoid acting hastily. We are asking the unions to be part of the democratic process under way in the National Assembly and to respect the work contracts in effect.”
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: 514 871-4000, extension 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca