A few days before the FTQ convention, where she will be re-elected for a second term as president of Quebec’s largest labour union, Magali Picard warned delegates from the United Steelworkers’ union on Thursday: “We are at war” and “this is the battle of our lives.”
Speaking at the United Steelworkers’ annual meeting in Laval, Picard attacked the CAQ government, which she accuses of trying to muzzle unions with various bills.
The latest government bill makes part of union dues optional and requires audited financial statements, even for small unions with 50 or 80 members, which will cut their budgets by several thousand dollars.
“They are going to create a monster. We will come back stronger than ever. We will get the job done. We will not take a knee. We’re going to defeat these bills,” Picard told the delegates.
The FTQ and its affiliated unions hope to convince the opposition parties to formally commit to withdrawing the bills, which the union community considers vindictive.
The entire union community is planning a major demonstration on Nov. 29 in Montreal.
The FTQ convention will be held next week. Picard has no opposition for the presidency. The number two and secretary general, Denis Bolduc, has already announced his departure. He will be replaced by Olivier Carrière, who comes from the Unifor union.
This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
