Blue collar workers guilty of illegal strike

Penalties will be handed out over the next six months to the many of Montreal's blue collar workers.

The province's essential services council says a demonstration by blue collar workers on Feb. 21 was illegal.

Of the 2,583 employees working that day, 1,601 illegally took time off of work to stage a demonstration in front of Montreal City Hall, the city says.

The workers dumped flowers at the steps of the building, calling it a good will gesture to get the city back to the negotiating table.

The essential services council has ordered the union to not encourage, incite or ask union members to leave their jobs to take part in a demonstration, without having an official strike mandate.

"The sanctions will vary from a few hours' suspension to a few days' suspension, depending on whether the employee has been found guilty in the past," said lawyer Franois Beaubien, who is representing the city in this case.

The city will spread out the penalties to the employees in question so as not to disrupt service further.