Minister of Labour outlines 'clear, precise' measures of new legislation affecting strikes or lockouts
Five major Quebec union federations have launched coordinated legal challenges against Law 14, just days after it came into force, arguing the new legislation infringes workers’ right to strike and upsets the balance of labour relations in the province.
In a joint statement, union leaders said the law goes too far.
“Bill 14 infringes on workers’ right to strike, disrupts the balance of labour relations, and places too much power in the hands of the Minister of Labour,” said Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD) and Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) in a joint statement.
“From the outset, we warned that Bill 14 would encourage employers to drag out negotiations while awaiting the Minister’s intervention, that it would exacerbate labour relations, and that it would have a significant impact on labour disputes,” the leaders added.
Under Bill 14, the Administrative Labour Tribunal can decide whether certain services essential to the population’s well-being must continue during a strike or lockout. This authority, which applies only to the current stage of negotiations, does not extend to the health and public service sectors.
The Act also allows the...
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