'Every minute counts': Quebec recalls MNAs to end province-wide construction strike

The Quebec government is officially recalling the National Assembly so it can table back-to-work legislation Monday as the province's labour conflict drags on.

"Every minute counts," said Labour Minister Dominique Vien.

"Every hour represents about $2 million of losses for the Quebec government."

Vien urged the province's construction unions and employers to strike a deal before the government steps in and ends the ongoing strike. She said she still had hope they would sign an agreement by the end of the weekend.

The move comes only a few hours after the alliance of Quebec construction unions announced it will move forward with legal proceedings against employer groups, arguing they are negotiating in bad faith.

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The unions claim the group negotiating on behalf of employers, the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ), presented a new offer that sets negotiations back by several weeks.

"They brought back all these demands," said Michel Trépanier, a spokesperson for the alliance of unions.

He added the proposal included abolishing five consecutive work days and overtime pay.

The announcement was made Saturday as the two sides were back at the negotiating table this weekend in a last-ditch effort to strike a deal.

ACQ spokesperson Éric Côté said he was surprised the union would take their complaint public since the two sides had agreed to maintain "radio silence" during negotiations. 

"We had many occasions on our side to make complaints about bad faith and we did not, we continued to negotiate," said Côté. 

The proposal made by the ACQ to the unions still stands and can still be accepted, he added.

Failed negotiations

Talks resumed earlier this week after Premier Philippe Couillard announced Thursday that he would table back-to-work legislation if the two sides couldn't reach an agreement by Monday.

The Quebec government also announced the addition of a fourth mediator to join the negotiations, in hopes of hammering out a deal before the deadline.

About 175,000 workers have been off the job since talks broke down late Tuesday night, bringing work at construction sites across the province to a halt. 

Workers in the industrial sector are asking for more stable work schedules, while salaries are believed to be the main sticking point in the residential sector.

They have been without a contract since April 30.