MONTREAL — Noisy and disruptive demonstrations are rolling across the province today as municipal workers hold a 24-hour protest against proposed pension reforms.
The demonstrations have disrupted construction sites and key installations such as the Port of Montreal.
One protest at Montreal city hall took place as Mayor Denis Coderre presented the 2015 budget.
The proposed legislation, known as Bill 3, calls for a 50-50 split between municipalities and unionized workers on pension contributions and deficits.
A spokesman for a coalition of unions says the major disruptions involve 25 groups and are taking place in several regions.
Firefighters blocked the main access to the Port of Montreal this morning and there were also demonstrations in subway stations.
In Quebec City, municipal employees tried to prevent city buses from leaving a garage. There was also a protest at the site of a new $400-million amphitheatre that is under construction.
Unions say they are being blamed for pension deficits that are not of their making and feel some municipalities are looking to save on labour costs by renegotiating retirement deals.
The pension battle is a test for Premier Philippe Couillard's Liberals, who warned when they came to power last April that tough economic decisions would be coming.
