Striking Quebec lawyers, notaries to be forced back to work with special law

The provincial government says it willtable a special law that would force more than a thousand striking government lawyers and notariesback to work.

At a news conference on Saturday, Treasury Board PresidentPierre Moreau announced theback-to-work legislation would be introduced 5 p.m. Monday at the National Assembly.

"We're no longer in a situation where negotiationsarepossible," said Moreau.

"We were there in good faith. Unfortunately we were alone at the table."

• Strike of Quebec lawyers, notaries leaves provincial lawmakers in the lurch

This comes afterthe governmentpresented what it considered its final offer to the association representing lawyers and notarieson Thursday, which reportedly included a wage increase.

Association representatives were expected to meet with negotiatorsover the weekend to propose a counter-offer.

Moreau said that meeting never happened and the association tried to push it back to another date.

18 weeks of negotiations

Moreau said despite making five different offers over the last 18 weeks, the association never once changed its mind.

Hethen accused them of playing games during the negotiations and never bringing to the table an offer in good faith.

"Being serious in negotiations impliesa very different attitude than what they've been showing us up until now," he said.

Approximately1,100 lawyers and notaries have been on strike since late Octoberand have been without a collective agreement since March 2015.

They are asking for the same work conditions as public prosecutors and want their contract to be submitted to binding arbitration.

Moreau said the strike has led to delays in administrative courts, Revenu Qubec and at the National Assembly.

He added that negotiations can continue right up until the back-to-work legislation is tabled.