Anti-Harper banner unfurled in Montreal ramps up campaign against EI benefit cuts

MONTREAL — A Quebec union coalition is ramping up its fight against the federal government to reverse federal changes to the Employment Insurance program.

Using a crane, it unveiled a large banner Monday morning to send a “no” message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper — via commuters taking the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

The banner, unfurled before the Monday morning rush hour, calls on Harper to roll back the changes, which the coalition characterizes as a “sacking” of benefits for the jobless. It reads: "Here, we say no to the sacking of EI benefits."

Quebec unions and organizations are rallying in defense of the unemployed and will announce the creation of a large coalition to fight the federal government's proposed reforms. These include a measure requiring frequent EI recipients to accept jobs that pay 70 per cent less than their previous paycheques, and to accept new jobs that require a one-hour daily commute.

Fact file: New rules on employment insurance

The five main unions represent 1.2 million Quebecers. 

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Source: globalmontreal.com
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