Reach a deal by Monday or we'll force you back to work, Couillard warns construction workers

The Quebec government won't letthe province-wideconstruction workers' strikedrag on Premier Philippe Couillardwill tableback-to-work legislationMonday if the two sides don't come to an agreement before then.

About 175,000 workers are off the job after talks between employers and unionssides broke down late Tuesday night,bringing projectsacross the province to a halt.

"We can't let the economy bleed $45 million dollars each day," said Couillard from Israel where he is on a trade mission.

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With looming back-to-work legislation, parties are expected to resume talks Thursday evening in Montreal.

"I can tell you that all sectors will return to the negotiating table in the next hours," MichelTrpanier, a spokesperson for the alliance of unions, told Radio-Canada.

Labour Minister Dominique Vienhas made it clear she would prefer a signedagreement, but would resort to a special law if need be.

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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.

The workers have been without a collective agreement since April 30.

Employers ready to negotiate

Franois-WilliamSimard,who represents one of construction employers' groups, saidthey were ready to begin negotiating in September, but the union only agreed to meet with them in March.

"Since the very beginning, they were going [toward]a general strike, because they didn't really want to negotiate," he said.

ricCt, a spokesperson for the Associationde la construction duQubec(ACQ)who is negotiating on behalf of the employers, saidthey are ready to head back to table.

"If the union wants to talk and wants to be serious and find a deal, they have a right to make their demonstration, but we have the right to do negotiations," he said."Where are the negotiators at this moment? All we have is [protesters]."

Protests across the province

Ct was referring to protesters at a rally held being held in Montreal, one of many held across the province asthe labour dispute enteredits second day.

In Sherbrooke, about 200 people marched down King Street West, chanting and waving signs.

"We have to keep demonstrating our opposition to the employers' demands, but our goal is still to reach a signed agreement," said steelworkerMaximeLapointe-Blair.

Threat of back-to-work law looms

Trpanierrefuted the notion that the unionwas holding out until they were in a position to strike.

"It's not a tactic. It's never a tactic to send 175,000 people on strike. Never. Our main tactic and our main goal is always going to be a general, global agreement for our members," he said inan interview on CBC Montreal'sDaybreak.

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Trpanier said that while thecompanies are trying to reach sector-by-sector agreements because they feel it's an easier way to resolve the dispute, the unions want anagreement for their members to ensure they're all covered under the same terms.

They are also asking for apay raise of 2.6 per cent, which includes theirpension and insurance. That raise is more than the rate of inflation, which is at 1.6 per cent, but Trpanier said he believes it's a reasonable request.

Trpanier said while he is satisfied with the labour minister's level of involvement, he doesn't like the looming threat of back-to-work legislation.

'Flash mobs,' dormant work sites

Tensions remainhigh some job sites that stayed open became the target of asudden "flash mob" stylepicketing Wednesday.

Several employer groups insist Quebec's "anti-scab" law does not apply to workers in the construction industry, so sites could stay open if workers agree.

The new Champlain Bridge and the long overdue new building for Montreal's French superhospital are among the projects affected by the strike.

This is the second general strike in theQuebecconstruction industry in four years.