Closed-door mediation fails between City of Montreal and firefighters

Quebecs labour relations board is holdinga public hearing Friday evening, after hours ofclosed-door mediation talks between the City of Montreal and its firefighters failed to resolve a dispute over firefighters' response time.

The two sides went into mediation after the City of Montreal filed a complaint, saying that firefighters are deliberately slowing down response time as a way to protest againstBill 3.

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The city allegesthe average response time to some types of emergency calls started risingat the beginning of the conflict over the pension reform bill. It also alleges that firefightershave cut back on some fire prevention services as a form of protest.

Firefighter union president Ronald Martin said he was surprised the city took the step of filing a complaint with the board. The union said earlier that it believes the city's response has beenpolitically-motivated.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said on Friday morning that he didn't believe the firefighters were respectingtheir collective agreements or theircontract with the city.

"They're going overboard," he said.

Friday evening's public hearing is expected to last all evening, and resume Saturdaymorning.