The city of Montreal says about 100 police officers who called in sick on Saturday crossed the line in the ongoing protest over pension reform.
The Montreal police officers' union would not comment Monday, but said over the weekend it was not behind the “blue flu.” The city flat-out disagrees, and is telling the union must pay for the overtime hours incurred by other police officers who replaced those who called in sick.
“We believe this was totally irresponsible and we appeal now to the responsibility of all the policemen,” said Pierre Desrochers, president of the City of Montreal executive committee. “What we're disputing is jeopardizing the security of the people; not providing the service that they people are paying for.”
The police union is part of a coalition of public sector employees protesting a provincial bill to increase their pension dues.
Under Bill 3, the government wants public pensions funded equally -- 50 per cent by tax payers and 50 per cent by workers.
Right now the split for police is 76-24.
Police cruisers are also marked up, and police officers have taken to wearing non-uniformed pants in protest.
Monday, the fashion protest spread to the city's white collars and green onion; it’s already underway at the STM.
Police officers and firefighters say their jobs in particular are physically demanding and so they, especially, deserve a strong pension.
“It's a career where the retirement isn't a luxury, it's a necessity,” said Matthew Ross, vice presidentof the Montreal Firefighters’ Association. ”It's an extremely physically demanding job. It's a mentally demanding job. It's an emotionally demanding job.”
With no right to strike the police and firefighters are promising to continue their protests.
