Labour unions protest against Quebec’s Bill 89 aimed at limiting strikes, maintaining services

Nine labour unions gathered in Montreal to protest against Quebec’s Bill 89 which aims to maintain certain services deemed important for the well-being of the population during a strike or a lockout. 

The protest took place in front of Plaza Centre-Ville where Quebec’s Labour Minister Jean Boulet was scheduled to give a talk to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, but was reportedly cancelled due to disruptions at the hotel from the protest. 

“One of our main means of pressure is going on strike. If this law passes, well, that possibility will be restrained, so that’s a big issue for us,” said Léonie Blanchette, the President of APTS West Central Montreal.

Caroline Senneville, the president of CSN adding, “It’s going to really tip the balance on the other side, on the boss’s side, and for us it’s not constitutional and our members are mad because they’re taking away from them one of the means they have to have pay increases.”

Last month, Boulet tabled Bill 89 which targets labour disputes in the private sector, municipal services and the education sector, but doesn’t include the health and public service sectors. The proposed changes to the Labour Code in the bill are designed to give greater consideration to the social, economic and environmental security needs of the population and would therefore require certain sectors to provide a minimum service during a strike or a lockout. 

“We know this is to protect the basis of economic activities, and this is unacceptable because a strike, precisely its objective, is to put some economical harm on the employer,” said Samuel Lesage, a union advisor at CSD.

In a statement to CityNews, Minister Boulet said that Bill 89 is, “a balanced framework that protects both workers’ rights and the continuity of services,” and that “in no way does this bill take away workers’ right to strike.”

“Now what he’s saying is like, maybe you won’t be able to strike one day, it’s going to be half a day, maybe an hour. After that, what’s going to be the pressure on the government to settle? What’s going to be the pressure on the government? He’s taking it all out for being able to do whatever he wants,” said Éric Gingras, president of CSQ. “You cannot attack our constitutional right to strike.”

Senneville adds, “All the unions in Quebec are represented here. This is a first demonstration, and I can tell you it won’t be the last.”