Unions are contemplating a fresh wave of labor actions
Tensions escalate between the Legault administration and trade unions, threatening to spawn an uprising akin to the Maple Spring to challenge Bill 89 on labor strikes.
"This issue could well be the deciding factor in the next election," stated the President of the Quebec Federation of Labor, Magali Picard, invoking memories of the spring of 2012. "There was a government that lost the elections in 2012 because of a Maple Spring."
Voters "overthrew the government" even if they "were not all in agreement with the student strike," she added. "However, they voted because they wanted the pressure tactics to cease, and that's what may happen."
M Picard made these statements on Thursday afternoon following a meeting with the Prime Minister and his colleagues from the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), the Democratic Confederation of Labor, and the Quebec Federation of Labor.
Bill 89, deposited in February, seeks "to prioritize the needs of the population" in the event of a strike or lockout. If passed, new criteria may be invoked to require a minimum offer of services during a labor dispute. It would also permit the government to compel, in certain instances, the intervention of an arbitrator empowered to determine working conditions.
"This bill, by weakening the bargaining power of workers and employees, will impoverish them," decried the President of the CSN, Caroline Senneville.
Once again on Thursday, the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, defended his bill against allegations of undermining workers' rights. "We are not eliminating the right to strike. We are ensuring that there are minimum services maintained to protect the population, particularly those who are in a vulnerable or powerless position," he declared when approached before question period.
"For me, social dialogue is important, and it should continue regardless of the circumstances," he added, inviting unions to propose something other than the simple withdrawal of the bill.
Maple Spring Recollections
The meeting between the Prime Minister and the unions had been scheduled on International Workers' Day, which the government had previously emphasized at the Salon Rouge.
However, during the same question period, the Prime Minister criticized a group of unionists. He called it a "shame" that protesters had gone to the residence of Minister of Labour Jean Boulet over the weekend, expressing disapproval for the action. The Prime Minister lamented the decision of Quebec Solidaire (QS) to refuse to support a motion deposited the day before to denounce the demonstration organized by the Workers' Alliance, the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs d'Amazon Laval-CSN, and the "Here, we boycott Amazon" movement. These groups demonstrated again on Thursday morning in front of the National Assembly. "Quebec Solidaire, shame on you! Total shame!" Legault exclaimed.
When asked about this matter, Caroline Senneville stated that she had no involvement in this event and condemned such methods. "We were unaware of it, we were not behind it. [...] We do not stage demonstrations in front of residences."
In the morning, the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs d'Amazon Laval-CSN expressed disappointment that the Minister "still refuses to acknowledge the mass layoff of 4,700 people as a crisis."
"We have tried everything to get Mr. Boulet to listen, but he keeps turning his ear. We went to his place on Saturday, and he didn't like that, so we came to the National Assembly. Will he finally listen to the workers or will he start claiming in the media that we're exaggerating to avoid discussing the real problem?" declared the union president, Félix Trudeau.
While workers were protesting outside, Jean Boulet submitted a motion to the Salon Rouge to "have the National Assembly recognize International Workers' Day, which takes place on May 1st and has been celebrated for over 100 years." Quebec Solidaire refused to debate it.
"There's always a context to a motion. The context exists, and we can't... It's impossible not to consider the context in the work we perform," explained the interim spokesperson for QS, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, noting that he had proposed several amendments that were rejected by the government.
Insight: Bill 89 and Its Repercussions
Bill 89, introduced by the Quebec Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, in February 2025, reflects significant changes in labor relations and trade union tensions in Quebec. This legislation serves to restrict strike actions by granting the Minister of Labour the authority to compel arbitration and maintain essential services essential for protecting society, particularly vulnerable individuals, aligning with similar measures taken during movements such as the Maple Spring in 2012, although without a direct causal relationship.
The Maple Spring had been a student-led movement opposing tuition hikes, which garnered support from organized labor and grew to become a broader movement against government austerity measures. Bill 89 serves as the latest installment in the ongoing dispute between the Quebec government and trade unions, as the Legault administration aims to exert control over strike actions in the guise of public security. This contestation mirrors wider concerns about the role of government in labor negotiations and the broader challenges faced by Quebec's labor movement as unionization rates remain high but face legislative pressure[1][2][3].
[1] "Le projet de loi 89 : que reste-t-il de la loi─SI ein SI non?" Montreal Gazette. Accessed April 18, 2025. (https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/le-projet-de-loi-89-que-reste-t-il-de-la-loi-si-ein-si-non)
[2] "Les syndicats se mobilisent pour combattre le projet de loi 89" La Presse. Accessed April 18, 2025. (https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec/202502/11/01-5340717-les-syndicats-se-mobilisent-pour-combattre-le-projet-de-loi-89.php)
[3] "Le projet de loi 89 : l'impacts sur les syndicats" Le Soleil. Accessed April 18, 2025. (https://www.lesoleil.com/194-actualites/1360270-le-projet-de-loi-89-limperats-sur-les-syndicats)
- Magali Picard, the President of the Quebec Federation of Labor, expressed concerns that the implementation of Bill 89 could impoverish workers and potentially power the next election, reminiscing about the decisive factor of the Maple Spring in 2012.
- Caroline Senneville, the President of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), decried that Bill 89 would weaken the bargaining power of workers, citing the Maple Spring as an example of public pressure against government policies.
- In the face of union protests and criticism over Bill 89, Jean Boulet, the Minister of Labor, defended the policy, stating it was designed to protect vulnerable individuals and not to undermine workers' rights, much like the actions during the Maple Spring.
- During the same period, there were ongoing demonstrations by labor unions, including the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs d'Amazon Laval-CSN, who accused the Minister of Labor of exaggerating the crisis and avoiding discussion on various issues, a tactic that was also attributed to the government during the Maple Spring.
