News

Montréal – Hundreds of workers gathered at lunch time today in Montréal, along with leaders of the APTS, CSD, CSN, CSQ, FAE, FIQ, FTQ, SFPQ and SPGQ, to demonstrate against Bill 89 and demand that it be withdrawn by Labour Minister Jean Boulet. 

“This bill doesn’t just infringe on workers’ right to negotiate and improve their working conditions,” said union spokespersons Caroline Senneville (CSN), Denis Bolduc (FTQ), Éric Gingras (CSQ), Luc Vachon (CSD), Mélanie Hubert (FAE), Guillaume Bouvrette (SPGQ), Laurier Ouellet (FIQ), Émilie Charbonneau (APTS) and Christian Daigle (SFPQ). “It also disrupts the fragile but important balance established in 1977 when anti-scab measures were made part of the Labour Code.”

The unions argue that the bill comes out of nowhere and is totally unjustified. “Do we need to point out that over 95% of bargaining talks lead to a settlement without a strike or lockout? Employers will no longer have any reason to negotiate in good faith if they know that arbitration will be imposed at the end of the day,” said the spokespersons. 

In today’s volatile and uncertain social and political context, the minister’s anti-worker impetus is in conflict with the social solidarity and cohesion that Premier Legault himself has called for. Although he presents himself as someone who is in favour of dialogue between the parties, Mr. Boulet is emphasizing confrontation and the use of legal action to resolve disputes. “Why is he doing this?” said the spokespersons. “Is he trying to make employers happy? It’s a valid question because if any one group is going to benefit from Bill 89, it’s bosses. What’s really strange is that this bill is being put forward at a time when inflation and a labour shortage would make a strong case for providing better conditions for workers.” 

The nine labour organizations plan to take action to express their deep dissatisfaction with the government’s project. They will also take advantage of their time at the parliamentary committee on Bill 89 to put their message across. 

Sources :

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