The city of Montreal is accusing firefighters of undertaking illegal pressure tactics by delaying their response times to emergency calls.
The two sides will take part in a closed-doors hearing Friday morning in front of the Labour Relations Board.
A statement released by the board says the alleged rise in response times coincides with the beginning of pressure tactics over Bill 3, the province’s proposed pension reform law.
The city is also accusing the firefighters of decreasing the number of prevention visits they make to residents’ homes.
It wants firefighters to “answer emergency calls in a normal and habitual fashion and carry out prevention visits in a habitual manner,” according to the release.
The firefighters’ union is denying the allegations.
Neither side of the conflict is commenting before the meeting, which will begin with a closed-door session with a mediator at 9:30 a.m. If the two sides cannot come to an agreement, the hearing will be opened to the public.
