There was a noisy demonstration outside Laval city hall Tuesday night as hundreds of blue collar workers gathered ahead of November’s election.
The protest prompted Mayor Marc Demers to cancel the meeting due to the loud noise outside, saying it was too disruptive to continue.
Blue collar workers were sounding horns, blaring music and making their voices heard, saying they’re upset that the ongoing contract dispute they have with the city has still not been resolved.
The workers have been without a contract since January 2016 and the matter is now in mediation.
This was the last council meeting scheduled before the upcoming municipal election in November.
Demers postponed the meeting until Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The blue collar union said they plan on reconvening their protest at that time as well, but the city of Laval sent the union a cease and desist order Wednesday morning, and had a heavy security presence in front of city hall as the meeting began.
Union president Martin Gagnon said members who were not scheduled to work would be there and be joined by workers from other municipalities. That did not happen.
The mayor was also under criticism from other city councillors for the cancellation, including his fellow mayoral candidates, who called the decision undemocratic. They said any of the people who were there to ask questions Tuesday would not be able to make it Wednesday afternoon.
