Quebec City, 29 May 2025 — Bill 89, which was adopted today, will have serious consequences for all of Quebec’s workforce. “The Premier and his Minister of Labour clearly do not understand the extent of the damage that his new legislation will cause. This is a dark day for workers,” said spokespersons Robert Comeau (APTS), Luc Vachon (CSD), Caroline Senneville (CSN), Éric Gingras (CSQ), Mélanie Hubert (FAE), Julie Bouchard (FIQ), Magali Picard (FTQ), Christian Daigle (SFPQ) and Guillaume Bouvrette (SPGQ).

Consequences for all Quebec employees 

There is no doubt in the minds of the labour organizations that the impacts of the bill will be felt far beyond union members. “We repeat that the gains achieved through negotiations exert positive pressure on non-unionized sectors, forcing employers to adjust to remain competitive. The government is attacking the entire Quebec workforce by limiting the ability of workers to defend and improve their working conditions,” the spokespersons lamented.

A threat to industrial peace 

Until now, the rules governing strikes have maintained a fragile but essential balance between workers and employers. The unions cannot understand why Jean Boulet wanted to turn everything upside down, unless it was to subject all employees to the whims of employers and to please management and a cabinet with anti-union tendencies. “The framework surrounding the right to strike, which was limited overall, gave workers the opportunity to improve their conditions within clear guidelines. The minister seems to have found excuses to trample their rights and, in so doing, is threatening industrial peace,” said union representatives. “It seems clear to us that the restrictions on the right to strike in this legislation will not stand up in court. Both the Canadian and Quebec constitutions, as well as the Saskatchewan ruling, are unequivocal on this point. Union rights are human rights.”

Hard-won gains

Over the decades, many social advances benefiting society as a whole have been achieved through the struggles of unionized workers. Pay equity, implementation of the childcare network, minimum wage and parental leave are just some of the gains achieved through union mobilization. “Our pressure tactics and strikes have enabled millions of Quebeckers to enjoy these rights. Depriving workers of their ability to fight back is a step backward for Quebec society as a whole,” insist the spokespersons.

“Trust has been broken”

As soon as Jean Boulet announced his intentions at the end of 2024, union organizations urged the Minister of Labour to exercise caution. “We quickly realized that the minister would not be open to discussions to find solutions that were satisfactory for everyone. Moreover, we find it difficult to understand this complete U-turn by the Minister of Labour, who drastically changed his tone from that moment on:  he chose to break off dialogue with Quebec workers. Trust has been broken,” concluded the spokespersons.

Renseignements :
Maxime Clément, APTS, 514 792-0481 ; Simon Lajoie, CSD, 514 662-5495, 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