Quebecers launch coalition against EI reform

AQuebec coalition of unions has launched a campaign against employment insurance reform, and to mark the event a large bannerwas hoisted in front of the Jacques Cartier Bridge, greeting Montreal commuters with a message against Ottawa's EI changes.

The large poster, hanging from a crane, showed a photo of Prime Minister Stephen Harper with French text that reads: "Quebecers say 'no' to the gutting of employment insurance."

Reforms to employment insurance havespurred thousands to protestacross Eastern Canada, many of them seasonal workers who believe the new rules are unfair.

The changes require workers to travel up to 100 kilometres and to accept jobs that pay as little as 70 per cent of their previous hourly wage providing that is not below the province's minimum wage rate.

On Monday, representatives from five labour unions and the two main organizations representingunemployed people announced the launch of the new coalitionin downtown Montreal.

"The government is blinded by its ideology. It's refusing to take into account the disastrous consequences of this reform," the coalition said in a statement.