Construction work on Laviolette Bridge suspended over pressure tactics

All work to replace long, steel cables on the Laviolette Bridge, which connects the cities of Trois-Rivières and Bécancour in central Quebec, is on hold indefinitely, Radio-Canada has learned.

The work stoppage comes as part of pressure tactics by Transports Québec engineers, who are in the process of negotiating a new collective agreement.

The transport ministry had planned since April to change the steel cables in the middle section of the bridge. The contract is worth $950,000.

Work was scheduled to take place during the overnight hours and on weekends for a period of 10 weeks. However, the 1,400 members of Quebec's professional association of government engineers (APIGQ) is on an unlimited general strike every weekday from 6:30 p.m. until 7 a.m., as well as on weekends.

Replacing the bridge's cables is not considered an essential service since it does not put people's health or safety at risk. The APIGQ suggested its engineers carry out the work throughout the day, but Transports Quebec said that would be too disruptive to traffic.

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Roughly 37,000 vehicles use the Laviolette Bridge every day.

Transports Québec said this is the only ministry project in the province that is being delayed due to pressure tactics.

"In terms of projects with the Transport Ministry, this is the only work site we know of that had to be postponed due to the engineers' strike," TQ spokeswoman Nomba Danielle told Radio-Canada.

Salary bogging down bargaining talks

Talks at the negotiating table are being bogged down over salary issues.

According to the engineers' union, an engineer who works for the Quebec government earns an annual salary of about $82,000, which is $16,000 – or 24 per cent – less than what engineers at Hydro-Québec earn.