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Montreal, QC – Unifor strongly opposes the bill tabled by Labour Minister Jean Boulet, which aims to undermine workers’ right to strike and give employers an unfair advantage. Under the guise of “protecting the public,” this legislation shifts the balance of bargaining power and amounts to a direct attack on Quebec’s middle class and workers. In these times of uncertainty and rising costs of living, the Legault government has singled out workers as the target for all concessions.
An attack on workers that will benefit employers
“This bill represents an all-out assault on Quebec workers, and it comes at the worst possible time,” declared Unifor National President Lana Payne. “I have a message for all Canadian premiers: if you attempt to undermine our right to strike and our collective bargaining rights just when our nation is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, you will face an immediate and forceful response from our union across the country.”
“This is a government that wants to erode the power of our society’s less privileged classes in order to protect the bosses,” added Daniel Cloutier, Unifor’s Quebec director. “As soon as things start looking up even a little bit for workers, such as with the labour shortage, among other things, the government changes the rules of the game to favour employers.”
A dangerous politicization of the right to strike
The right to strike and lockout and the protection of the public are already governed by the Administrative Labour Tribunal, an impartial and effective body that ensures public protection. However, with the introduction of this bill, the government is now looking to politicize this process. “Rather than allowing a neutral body to oversee labour disputes, this bill opens the door to a system where employers can use their privileged access to the corridors of political power to influence the Minister and by-pass collective bargaining,” argued Cloutier.
Interference already the subject of a legal challenge
Minister Boulet made it clear that he was inspired by the federal Minister of Labour’s recent use of section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. However, it’s important to note that the federal government’s use of this legislation is currently being challenged in the courts on the grounds that it interferes with workers’ fundamental rights as recognized by the Supreme Court. Unifor urges mobilization Unifor will forcefully oppose this attempt to undermine workers’ fundamental rights. If the Legault government thinks it can attack workers’ rights without resistance, it is very much mistaken.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. Unifor advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. In Quebec, Unifor represents nearly 55,000 members and is affiliated to Quebec’s largest central labour body, the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ).
For media enquiries, please contact Unifor Quebec Communications Representative Véronique Figliuzzi at @email.
