Quebec union leaders have raised alarms regarding a recently passed labour law that may significantly impact workers’ rights during strikes and lockouts. The new legislation goes into effect on November 30. It increases the number of key public services that are required to be maintained in the event of industrial action. This recent move has sent union leadership into a panic. Their concern is that employees will endure the same kind of treatment recently inflicted on striking Air Canada flight attendants.
The Quebec government’s labour minister has the authority to impose arbitration in labour disputes. This authority is activated when a strike or lockout is deemed to be an immediate threat to the health and safety of the public. Union leaders responded with near disbelief to this provision. They claim that it strips workers of their bargaining power and might lead to discriminatory consequences.
On Monday, Magali Picard, president of the Federation of Trade Unions (FTQ), expressed her fears at a news conference in Montreal. Éric Gingras, president of the Centrale des Syndicats du Québec (CSQ), was with her to voice his concerns. They even went through the merits of Quebec’s new law vs. the current federal legislation. This federal law allows Ottawa to impose binding arbitration in labour disputes.
“I predict that this is what will happen in Quebec,” said Picard, reflecting on the potential ramifications of the law. She criticized employers for creating an environment where negotiations are prolonged, stating, “They let negotiations fester, and then they cry on the government’s shoulder, asking it to intervene under false pretences.”
Gingras underscored these sentiments. He stated that the difficulties being experienced by Air Canada flight attendants are a precursor for the rest of Quebec’s workforce. He remarked that it exemplifies “exactly what Quebec unions could experience” under the newly enacted law. He advised employers not to drag their feet at the negotiating table. Rather than appealing to government to solve their problems, hospitals need to negotiate a better outcome with their workers.
The unions have already announced their intent to file a lawsuit to block enforcement of the law. Critics claim that it hurts workers’ rights and gives bad-faith employers room to stall negotiations. Recent changes at the federal level are further exacerbating their concerns. The strike labour relations board ruled unlawful after a union defied a back-to-work order.
Union leaders in Quebec are watching every step of the process with great interest. They’ve been preparing for possible legal action against legislation they think might damage workers’ rights in the province. With the passage of this law, we witness a major development in labor relations in Quebec. In reaction, unions are mobilizing in protest against what they view as an attack on their ability to collectively bargain.
