Press release
Labour organizations call on Minister Jean Boulet to withdraw Bill 89

Montreal, March 14, 2025 – Accompanied by hundreds of workers, the leaders of the APTS, CSD, CSN, CSQ, FAE, FIQ, QFL, SFPQ, and SPGQ gathered at a demonstration in Montreal at noon today to demand that Labour Minister Jean Boulet withdraw Bill 89.

“Not only does this bill undermine workers’ right to negotiate and improve their working conditions, but it also destabilizes the fragile yet crucial balance that has existed since the adoption of anti-scab provisions in the Labour Code in 1977,” explained spokespersons Caroline Senneville (CSN), Denis Bolduc (QFL), Éric Gingras (CSQ), Luc Vachon (CSD), Mélanie Hubert (FAE), Guillaume Bouvrette (SPGQ), Laurier Ouellet (FIQ), Émilie Charbonneau (APTS), and Christian Daigle (SFPQ).

For union organizations, this bill, which appeared out of nowhere, is entirely unjustified. “Need we remind the government that more than 95% of negotiations are resolved without strikes or lockouts? If employers know that arbitration will ultimately be imposed, they will have little incentive to negotiate in good faith with unions,” the spokespersons deplored.

In the current volatile and unpredictable political and economic climate, the minister’s anti-worker stance goes against the social cohesion and solidarity that Premier François Legault himself has called for. While Boulet presents himself as an advocate for dialogue between parties, he is instead choosing the path of confrontation and legal battles. “Why? To please employers? The question must be asked because if Bill 89 serves one group in particular, it is the employers. And, strangely enough, let’s be honest, this bill comes at a time when the labour shortage and inflation should justify significant improvements to workers’ conditions,” the spokespersons pointed out.

The nine labour organizations are preparing to take action to express their strong dissatisfaction with the government’s intentions. They also intend to use their participation in the Parliamentary Commission on the bill to ensure their voices are heard.

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Translated into English by SEU 800 from the original French-language press release issued by the nine labour organizations.