Quebec labour minister mulls law change to give province authority to end strikes, lockouts

Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet is considering making changes to the law to give the government more authority to intervene in labour disputes. In his year-end review, Boulet expressed interest in federal legislation that allows Ottawa to end strikes or lockouts and impose arbitration. This discretionary power, known as Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, has been used recently to resolve labour disputes in the country’s railways, ports, and postal service.

While Section 107 can only be used by the federal government for conflicts under federal jurisdiction, Boulet believes a similar law could be beneficial for resolving disputes in Quebec. He cited several recent labour disputes in the province, including those in food processing, at the Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges cemetery, in education, and in public transit.

Boulet emphasized that his goal is always to find solutions to end disputes and help the involved parties reach a resolution. He is also considering expanding the list of essential services in Quebec to prevent certain workers from going on strike completely.

However, Caroline Senneville, president of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), one of Quebec’s largest labour federations, expressed surprise at Boulet’s remarks. She cautioned the minister to proceed with caution before following Ottawa’s lead. Senneville highlighted that the use of Section 107 in the Canada Labour Code is currently being challenged in court and could potentially be deemed unconstitutional.

Senneville raised concerns that the federal government’s frequent interventions in labour disputes could undermine the right to strike in Canada and potentially lead to more conflicts. She emphasized the importance of unions negotiating in good faith with employers and protecting the rights guaranteed by the Canadian constitution.

The CSN is eager to be part of the discussions regarding the minister’s proposed changes to labour laws in Quebec. However, Senneville made it clear that the union would never support any measures that could result in the loss of hard-won rights protected by the constitution. It remains to be seen how the discussions will progress and what potential changes may be implemented in Quebec’s labour laws in the future.