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Montréal – The Estates General on the Union Movement have been launched with pride. With the theme of “Unions build the future,” Québec’s nine major unions – the APTS, CSN, CSD, CSQ, FAE, FIQ, FTQ, SFPQ and SPGQ – will come together to reflect on the challenges workers will face in the next few years, given a turbulent social, economic and political climate that includes the attacks on the right to strike found in Bill 89.

Quebec’s labour movement is at a crossroads, and the Estates General, an unprecedented event in Québec, will enable these nine unions to join forces in order to develop a collective analysis.

At the heart of the project is a deep and honest conversation on our future together, with discussions on how to modernize labour approaches in order to better meet workers’ expectations and increase their power to act as they face new realities in the workplace.

The labour movement is made up of faces, voices and realities that deserve to be seen and heard. This proactive process is an attempt to revitalize it, ensure greater social justice, and build a future where workers acting together can take their place.

A commitment to the future of the union movement

“Our organizations want to modernize to better meet the full range of workers’ expectations,” the presidents of nine unions jointly declared: Robert Comeau (APTS), Luc Vachon (CSD), Caroline Senneville (CSN), Éric Gingras (CSQ), Mélanie Hubert (FAE), Julie Bouchard (FIQ), Magali Picard (FTQ), Christian Daigle (SFPQ) and Guillaume Bouvrette (SPGQ).” The union movement has always been a force for change. Through our struggles and demands, we have shaped Québec and made invaluable gains for society. Today, there are increasing challenges, but our values are sound. With this new approach, we want to reinforce our collective action and build a future based on greater justice and solidarity.”

An open dialogue on major issues

The Estates General will provide a forum to study essential questions about the future of the labour movement in Québec. They will look at the place of unions in society and their role in improving collective well-being, as well as the ability of unions to mobilize their members and increase their bargaining power. The evolution of inter-union relations will also be addressed, along with the Québec model for labour relations, representation, and members’ sense of belonging. Finally, discussions will look at how to eliminate obstacles to participation for groups that have historically faced discrimination, to ensure greater inclusion in the union movement.

A process with three major steps

This inter-union initiative will last a year and a half and will include:

1.      a period in 2025 for consulting workers, along with experts from the world of work and civil society, to gather their perspectives;

2.      a spring 2026 conference to discuss the results of consultations and identify possible solutions;

3.      a major event in early 2027 at the end of 2026 to close out the Estates General and present the conclusions of this collective effort.

By engaging in unprecedented dialogue, these nine Québec unions want to lay the foundations for a solid labour movement that is more inclusive and responsive to tomorrow’s realities.

Source: Estates General of the Union Movement 

APTS, CSD, CSN, CSQ, FAE, FIQ, FTQ, SFPQ, SPGQ.