Conflict in construction: agreement-in-principle highways and civil engineering

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QMI agency

Thursday, July 20, 2017 16:42

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Thursday, July 20, 2017 16:42

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QUEBEC | construction workers in the areas of the civil engineering and highways have reached an agreement in principle with the employer.

The news was confirmed Thursday by the Association of road builders and heavy construction du Québec (ACRGTQ) as well as by the Alliance syndicale de la construction.

This agreement in principle relates to all the clauses and conditions of the collective agreement. Back from vacation, negotiations will continue for the clauses specific to each profession and occupation, said the union.

“We have always said that a negotiated agreement was preferable and this is what we have been able to get” welcomed Michel Trépanier, a spokesman for the union Alliance.

“We hope that it will inspire associations of other sectors in order to arrive at some agreements”, he added.

On the employers ‘ side, The ACRGTQ said to be “very optimistic coming to a negotiated settlement for the whole of the collective agreement prior to October 30, 2017”, which is the date providing for the beginning of the sessions of arbitration as stipulated by the special law adopted in may.

This agreement applies to more than 2600 employers and more than 35 000 employees of the industry.

It would have to be ratified by the general assembly, by each of the trade associations, before becoming officially the collective agreement 2017-2021.

About 153 000 active workers of the construction have been on strike for about a week at the end of the month of may last, before a special law adopted by the national Assembly do not force their return to work.