Quebec City, 21 May 2025 — Hundreds of workers demonstrated at noon today in front of the National Assembly to denounce the serious consequences that Bill 89 will have on Quebec workers.

In the run-up to the bill’s passing, union organizations are united in denouncing it as a frontal attack on labour relations.  “With this bill, Labour Minister Jean Boulet is dismantling the fragile but essential balance between workers and employers. This is a major step backwards for Quebec,” said spokespersons Robert Comeau (APTS), Caroline Senneville (CSN), Nadine Bédard-St-Pierre (CSQ), Patrick Bydal (FAE), Julie Bouchard (FIQ), Denis Bolduc (FTQ), Christian Daigle (SFPQ) and Annie Morin (SPGQ).

Although Bill 89 is aimed solely at unionized workers, its effects will be felt by the entire workforce. The advances achieved through union negotiations put positive pressure on non-unionized workplaces, forcing employers to adjust in order to remain competitive. “By limiting our members’ ability to defend and improve their working conditions, the government is attacking Quebec’s entire economic engine, i.e., its employees,” denounced the spokespersons. Moreover, if there is one group coming out of Bill 89 a winner, it is the employers, who took turns praising the bill in a parliamentary committee a few weeks ago. “Strangely enough, only the employers applauded, while many labour relations specialists expressed serious concerns about the bill.”

Union struggles that pay off  

For decades, the battles waged by unionized workers have led to major social advances. Minimum wage, parental leave, pay equity, the childcare network: all gains won through union mobilization. “It’s our pressure tactics and strikes that have enabled millions of Quebeckers to benefit from these rights. To deprive workers of their ability to fight is to stifle the progress of Quebec society as a whole,” insisted the spokespersons.

Lack of dialogue

Finally, all the union organizations denounced the cavalier attitude of the labour minister, who did not even see fit to inform them that such an upheaval was on its way. “With such a clumsy approach, he has made discussions almost impossible, something we deeply deplore. Win-win solutions can only be found through dialogue,” added the spokespersons.

Pointing out that the right to strike is enshrined in both the Quebec and Canadian charters of rights and freedoms, the union organizations signalled their intention to look into challenging Bill 89 in the courts. “We will not allow our rights to be trampled. The premier and his labour minister can rest assured that we will continue to mobilize,” concluded the spokespersons.

Information: Maxime Clément, APTS, 514 792-0481 ; Noémi Desrochers, CSN, 514 216-1825 ; Étienne Richer, CSQ, 581 983-6130 ; Marie-Josée Nantel, FAE, 514 709-7763 ; Philippe Desjardins, FIQ, 581 995-0762 ; Jean Laverdière, FTQ, 514 893-7809 ; Éric Lévesque, SFPQ, 418 564-4150 ; Karine Doyon, SPGQ, 438 531-5639