Press release
Legislation restricting the right to strike: unions urge the government to honour its word 

On June 25, 2025, the presidents of Quebec’s major labour federations met with Labour Minister Jean Boulet, at his request, in an effort to rebuild bridges following the adoption of Bill 89, a piece of legislation designed to weaken unions’ bargaining power and undermine workers’ rights. While Minister Boulet expressed a willingness to meet again at the end of the summer to renew social dialogue, he also stated in a recent interview that he was now considering moving up the implementation of the measure, originally scheduled to take effect on November 30, 2025, adding fuel to what many in union circles are already calling a handout to employers. Such a move contradicts the minister’s stated intent to restore dialogue and sends a troubling signal about the government’s respect for labour organizations and its ability to honour its commitments.  

Since Bill 89 was announced, unions have been sounding the alarm about its harmful consequences. They’ve issued public statements, engaged with the media, and mobilized their members to highlight how this law undermines workers’ ability to improve their working conditions. Despite these efforts, the government forged ahead with a deeply damaging reform and is now contemplating breaking its word to push the law into effect even earlier. Changing the rules of the game once again to favour employers would have serious and far-reaching consequences. 

“We expect the Minister of Labour to strive for balance in labour relations. Social dialogue doesn’t happen just by saying the words. It must be grounded in good faith, trust, and meaningful consultation. Yet Minister Boulet continues to act unilaterally. We urge him to take a page from the book of his colleague Sonia LeBel, President of the Treasury Board, who undertook a review of the public sector bargaining framework by working with unions to find common ground that benefits all parties,” said union representatives Luc Vachon (CSD), Caroline Senneville (CSN), Éric Gingras (CSQ), and Magali Picard (QFL).