Quebec Union Leaders Oppose Bill 3 Limiting Dues Collection

Union leaders from across Quebec convened in Quebec City on October 29, 2023, to express their strong opposition to a proposed labour law that they believe could significantly constrain how unions utilize dues collected from their members. The bill, known as Bill 3, was introduced by Quebec’s Labour Minister Jean Boulet and is set to undergo parliamentary hearings beginning October 31, 2023.

The legislation aims to categorize union dues into mandatory and optional categories. Under this framework, activities that are not directly related to a union’s core functions—such as negotiating collective agreements or managing working conditions—would not be funded through mandatory dues. Instead, these activities would require optional dues, which could only be collected if approved by a majority vote among members.

Patrick Gloutney, president of the Quebec branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents approximately 143,000 workers, voiced his concerns, stating, “Jean Boulet is declaring war on labour unions. He’s going to create chaos like never before.” The Canadian Union of Public Employees is one of more than 30 unions affiliated with the Federation of Labour of Quebec, which organized the press conference ahead of a congress scheduled for the following day.

Magali Picard, president of the federation that represents over 600,000 workers, criticized the proposed law, arguing it would lead to an administrative burden for unions. “Do you think the labour minister, who’s been there for the last seven years, doesn’t understand our (union dues) structures? The message is clear, he’s trying to muzzle us,” Picard remarked.

Minister Boulet has stated that the intention behind Bill 3 is to enhance transparency between unions and their members. He emphasized the need for workers to have reliable access to information regarding how their dues are spent. “We want to give workers more reliable access to information,” Boulet explained during a press conference on October 30, 2023.

Under the proposed law, activities related to launching legal challenges on the constitutionality of laws, running advertising campaigns, or engaging in social movements would fall under the optional dues category. Renaud Plant, a leader in Unifor’s Quebec chapter, characterized the bill as an “administrative quagmire designed to eliminate us.” He provided an example, noting that under the new rules, even simple communications to a member of Parliament could require prior approval through a vote.

Many union leaders have also raised alarms regarding new audit requirements stipulated in the bill. Unions with a membership of at least 200 members would need to present audited financial statements to their members, a regulation that could impose significant costs on smaller unions.

As the parliamentary hearings approach, the outcome of this proposed legislation remains uncertain, but union leaders are uniting in their efforts to challenge what they view as an infringement on workers’ rights and union autonomy. With the potential for substantial changes to the operational dynamics of unions, the implications of Bill 3 could resonate throughout Quebec’s labour landscape.