The thorny issue of local hiring on construction sites has arisen anew, as the FTQ-Construction union issued a statement Thursday complaining that only two of 12 crane operators hired for a wind farm operation at Témiscouata near Riviere du Loup were from a local pool of workers.
Union rep Evans Dupuis reported that there are over 30 unemployed crane operators in the Lower St. Lawrence who could have done the work but instead 10 of the 12 used on the project are from the Montreal area.
Yves Ouellet, who heads the FTQ-Construction, said that the problem is nothing new and could lead to social conflict. Ouellet said that he has asked the local MNA to ensure that unemployed from the area get first dibs on construction work in the area.
Last year at the Charbonneau Commission, many stories emerged of worksite operators being intimidated by thugs insisting on more local hiring on construction sites in rural Quebec.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
