Quebec construction boss cries recounting intimidation, violence on work site

MONTREAL – A construction boss cried at Quebec’s corruption inquiry today while describing an attack on his own brothers by protesters at a construction site.

The tears flowed as Normand Pedneault talked about intimidation and violence on a site in 2005, when some 40 or 50 protesters beat up his brothers, terrorized workers and smashed equipment.

Pedneault says his transgression was not hiring guys affiliated with the Quebec Federation of Labour.

A union boss tied to the federation’s construction wing had warned him to send his employees home and hire local workers referred to him by the union.

Pedneault says he was told the alternative was a “storm” on the site a day later.

Pedneault testified that his brothers Benoit and Daniel were overseeing the site and were beaten and threatened by beefy men who were drunk.

Many of his own workers had barricaded themselves inside an office while others fled altogether and didn’t want to return.

Provincial police showed up a few hours after the incident.

His brothers were so traumatized they didn’t want to show their bruises a day later.

He said his brothers had been broken and that they still carry the emotional scars.

“Even today, they don’t want to talk about it,” Pedneault said.