News

Québec City – Hundreds of workers demonstrated at lunchtime today in front of the National Assembly to denounce the serious impact of Bill 89 on Québec workers.

As the passage of the bill approaches, unions are joining forces to decry a head-on attack on labour relations. “With this bill, labour minister Jean Boulet is dismantling the fragile, but essential, balance between workers and employers,” said union spokespersons Robert Comeau (APTS), Caroline Senneville (CSN), Nadine Bédard-St-Pierre (CSQ), Patrick Bydal (FAE), Julie Bouchard (FIQ), Denis Bolduc (FTQ), Christian Daigle (CUPE) and Annie Morin (SPGQ). “This is a major step backward for Québec.” 

While Bill 89 targets unionized workers, its effects will be felt by all labour. Gains achieved through union bargaining put positive pressure on non-unionized settings, forcing employers to adjust to remain competitive. “By limiting the ability of our members to defend and improve their working conditions, the government is attacking Québec’s economic driver as a whole: its employees,” the spokespersons said. The group that emerges the winner with Bill 89 is employers, who took turns praising the bill in a parliamentary committee a few weeks ago. “Oddly, it was only employers who applauded the bill, while many labour relations experts expressed serious concerns.”

Union struggles that pay off 

For decades, struggles by unionized workers have enabled major advances in society. Minimum wage, parental leave, pay equity, the CPE network (non-profit childcare centres) are all gains achieved through union mobilization. “Our pressure tactics and strikes have allowed millions of Quebecers to benefit from these rights,” the spokespersons said. “Depriving workers of the ability to fight impedes progress for all of Québec society.”

Lack of dialogue 

The unions also denounced the cavalier attitude of the labour minister, who didn’t even see fit to inform them that this upheaval was in the works. “With such a heavy-handed approach, he made discussions practically impossible, something we deeply deplore,” the spokespersons said. “Dialogue is what makes win-win solutions possible.”

Pointing out that the right to strike is enshrined in both the Québec and Canadian charters of rights and freedoms, unions have signaled they will explore challenging Bill 89 before the courts. “We won’t let our rights be stripped away,” the spokespersons said. “The premier and his labour minister can count on our continued mobilization.” 

Sources : APTS, CSN, CSQ, FAE, FIQ, FTQ, CUPE, SPGQ