The Government of Quebec waited until the last day to table a bill aimed at destroying part of our Labour Code. Bill 110, which relates to negotiations in the municipal sector, in many respects resembles certain articles of a bill that the Government of New Brunswick filed two months ago. New Brunswick had the good sense to withdraw its bill, as it was found to be unconstitutional.
“This bill is a political act that restricts our right to free negotiation for municipal employees and our ground transport members. But we are not fools. Our basic rights are still under attack,” said Denis Bolduc, president of CUPE Quebec.
“There are a number of problems with this bill. The hasty intervention of the legislature would compromise the right to strike, a right recognized by the most recent decisions of the Supreme Court. Negotiations work. They lead to settlements every week. Let us negotiate!” said FTQ president Daniel Boyer
“Quebec is a more egalitarian society, in part because of our Labour Code. There is a balance and the government is altering that balance. This is the second attack in a very short time against municipal and ground transport employees,” concluded Marc Ranger, director of CUPE Quebec.
With more than 110,000 members in Quebec, CUPE represents about 70% of the province’s municipal employees, or 31,600 members.
The FTQ, the largest central labour body in Quebec, represents over 600,000 workers.