Organized workers from Quebec are mobilizing against what they call anti-union policies being implemented by the province’s government.
On Monday, five major unions representing more than one million Quebec workers announced they were challenging Bill 89, now known as Law 14 after came into effect on Sunday.
The Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), L’Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) and the Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD) say that the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ), led by premier Francois Legault, is attempting to scapegoat workers as it distracts from its own problems.
Law 14 gives a tribunal the power to decide which services are essential in the case of a strike or lockout. The tribunal can order these “essential services” to be maintained. As well, the bill gives the Minister of Labour the power to submit labour disputes to an arbitrator.
“Law No. 14 infringes on the right to strike for workers, disrupts the balance of labour relations, and places too much power in the hands of the Minister of Labor,” a joint statement from five Quebec unions reads. “From the outset, we had warned that Law No. 14 would encourage employers to drag their feet in negotiations while waiting for the minister to intervene, that it would exacerbate labor relations and have a significant impact on labor disputes.”
The text of the law asserts that these measures would give greater consideration to the needs of the population during a strike or lockout. It states that the maintenance of essential services will prevent undue effects on the population’s social, economic or environmental security.
On Sunday, thousands of Quebecers rallied in Montreal to criticize the government for its underfunding of public services and its attacks on unions. Protestors from Quebec were also joined by allies from neighbouring Ontario and New Brunswick.
Beyond Law 14, the Quebec government has also tabled Bill 3 which calls for union dues to be divided into “principal dues” and “optional dues.” Activities not directly related to collective bargaining would be covered by optional dues. This means advocacy work that involves challenging laws that affect workers rights would be financed by optional dues.
The Quebec branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said these measures from the government amount to authoritarian tactics.
“Weakening the unions will destroy our social model!” said Patrick Gloutney, president of CUPE Quebec. ‘“They have no credibility! Legault’s war on unions is a diversionary tactic. He’s looking to gain what political mileage he can after failing in every other file: the cost-of-living and housing crisis, the dismal state of our health and education systems, the waste of public funds on the battery industry and other lost investments, not to mention his disastrous negotiations with doctors.”
Moving forward, Quebec labour organizations plan to continue to fight against the provincial government’s anti-union laws. The FTQ, Quebec’s largest union centre, wrapped its 34th congress last week where delegates united on a mandate to fight against the government’s attacks on workers.
“Our challenge now is to make this government understand that we will let them plunder our rights, our social safety net, which is the result of battles and struggles that, over the years, have benefited not only unionized workers but the entire population of Quebec,” FTQ president Magali Picard said on the last day of the congress.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
