By Stéphane Doucet
Quebec’s right-wing Coalition Avenir Québec government has put forward many extremely unpopular and politically significant bills for its fall session, but one in particular has pushed organized labour towards what could and certainly should be a mass mobilization.
Bill 3, the Act to improve transparency, governance and the democratic process of various workplace associations, is aimed squarely at labour’s ability to act on non-workplace-related issues – meaning social and political activity – as well as increasing the financial and administrative burdens associated with financial transparency. It is a frontal attack, and unions are treating it as such.
Eight of the largest unions and federations, representing virtually all of Quebec’s unionized labour force, are organizing what will hopefully be a mass demonstration on November 29 in Montreal. Buses from all over are being booked, billboards are announcing the details, union members are leafleting at intersections and workplaces all over Quebec.
The demonstration comes on the eve of the enactment of the infamous Bill 89, now Law 14. This legislation serves as a provincial counterpart for Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, a legal instrument for breaking strikes “in the public interest.”
The slogan for the November 29 mobilization is the extremely vague “Dans la rue pour le Québec” (“In the street for Quebec”), which has led individual unions to develop their own slogans. The CSN is using “Faire front pour le Québec” (“Stand firm for Quebec”) whereas the CSQ has opted for “Ça nous regarde” (“It’s our business”), but even these maintain an excess of vagueness, and could mean absolutely anything to anyone not paying attention.
But even if the slogans are lacking, that doesn’t diminish the importance of the mobilization – it’s not every day, or even every year, that national unions in Quebec get together to fight a political battle. This likely says more about the severity of the attacks than the momentum behind a push for more political unity and struggle. It’s therefore all the more important to participate and build on the small foundation currently in place, to push the struggle forward.
Beyond responding to anti-labour attacks, the working class ultimately needs to move forward with its own agenda, based on its own priorities and from a fighting, ambitious and optimistic position. November 29 marks a date that can propel the movement in Quebec forward in that spirit – it’s an opportunity for progressives to seize upon.
[Photo of union rally against Bill 89: CSN]
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