Pierrefonds-Roxboro workers claim they were ordered off floodwork to meet Denis Coderre

Some blue collar workers are frustrated and annoyed after they were called from their work in flooded areas of Pierrefonds-Roxboro Wednesday for a surprise pizza lunch with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

Two borough workers, who spoke with CBC anonymously because they feared repercussions at work, said they received a call on their radiosfrom a supervisoraround 10:50 a.m. .

"Our boss told us to stop everything and go back to the office," said one worker.

They saythey were told to show up atPierrefonds Comprehensive High School, which has been set up as an information centre for flood victims,no later than11:15 a.m.

Without any other details, they packed up and left their worksite in one of the areas hardest hit by flooding.

"We all got there without knowing what we were supposed to do or hear," one workersaid.

• Pierrefonds-Roxboro workers were ordered to destroy sandbags days before flooding

The municipal employeessay about 150 blue-collar workers from variousboroughsconvened in the cafeteria of the school and waited until Coderre walked in around 11:30 a.m., much to their surprise.

They say Coderregave a short speech, which was followed by pizza, then the mayor made the rounds,shaking hands with workers.

Goodwill gesture, mayor's office says

CBC spoke to some blue collar workerswho said the gesture was appreciated.

Marc-Andr Gosselin, a spokesperson for the mayor, told CBC in a statement thatCoderre visited during the workers' scheduled lunch hour to "encourage and congratulate blue collar workers for their work and dedication to the victims."

However, some employeesand their union confirmed thedesignated daily lunch time is from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m., and they say they were not given a choice but to leave the job earlyto go meetCoderre.

"We find it sad that in difficult times, some people would choose to play politics," saidGosselin.

Montreal's blue collar workers union has been at odds for years with theCoderreadministration.

Back in 2014, city workers stormed City Hall as a way to protest municipal pension plan reform.

A year later, blue collar workers were forced back to work after a move the city considered to be an "illegal work stoppage."

The blue collar workers' current contract expires in December 2017.

Well-meaning, but shortsighted?

A union spokesperson, Andr Lepage,said that while Coderre's message of congratulations was appreciated, the way it was done was shortsighted.

"Some blue-collar workers even said, 'You could have congratulated us after citizens were safe,'" Lepage said.

He said the city employeeslost at least an hour of work during what hedescribes as an emergency situation to save residents' homes.

• 2017 Quebec Floods

One worker told CBC that Coderrecould have visited themon the ground or givenhis message over their radio transmitters,so that they could continue helping residents affected by the flood.

"Personally, it was a bit of a waste of time," said the worker. "He could have waited until afterhe could have sent his message tens of thousands of ways."

"They are working crazy hours," said Lepage. "For them, it was a waste of time. They didn't know why they needed that congratulations then."

The move was also criticized by Pierrefonds residents trying toprotect their homes.

"They should never have pulled them off. An hour is a long time when you're doing flood relief," said Klaus Bodnik.
"They are spread thin, there's not enough of them, and they are doing what they can."