White-collar workers in Montreal holding one-day strike

Some municipal services will be disrupted Tuesday as thousands of white-collar workershold a one-day strike to denounce Bill 3 the provinces proposed legislation that would bringchanges to their pension plans.

Roughly 9,000 workers in Montreal, Kirkland, Dorval and Westmount are expected to be on strike.

Protests began at6 a.m. outside Montreal City Hall in Old Montreal.

• Montreal's white collar workers threaten Bill 3 strike
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Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said the strike will mean that some municipal offices will be shut down for the day.

Although we have signed an agreement on the maintenance of essential services with the white-collar workers union, some services to citizens normally carried out by white-collar workers will not be offered or offered in a reduced fashion, Coderre said, adding that he hopes the protests will be carried out in a peaceful and respectful manner.

Protest is two-fold

Tuesday's protest is in part reaction to theprovincial government's plan to change municipal workers pension plans through Bill 3, legislationset to pass today in the National Assembly.

Bill 3, introduced in June, would bring employer and employee contributions to a 50/50 split. It could make cityemployees pay more toward their pensions.

Some retirees might also be on the hook for pension shortfallsto make up for aprovince-widepension plan deficit of $4 billion.

The protesting workers say they're also eager to sign a collective agreement.

White-collar workers have been without a dealsince 2011. They say the creation of Bill 3 has slowed negotiations to a crawl.

Whats closed

Here is a list of what offices and services will be closed on Tuesday Dec. 2 as a result of the strike:

• Montreals public libraries
• Accs Montreal offices
• service counters
• the Centre d'histoire de Montral museum
• 511 Info-travaux line
• Claims office
• Montreal municipal court house, except for essential services
• Borough community centres, arenas, sports centres

Reduced services

Facilities run by the city will remain open, but some of their services will be reduced:

• Space for Life (Montreal Biodome, Montreal Insectarium, Montreal Botanical Garden, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium)
• Claude-Robillard sports complex
• Nature parks

The protest comes almost one week after municipal workers across the province held a one-day strike.