Quebec Union Leaders Rally Against Controversial Labour Bill

Union leaders from various sectors in Quebec have united to voice their opposition to a proposed labour bill that they believe could significantly restrict how unions manage dues collected from their members. The gathering took place on November 23, 2025, in Quebec City, where leaders expressed their concerns about the implications of the legislation introduced by the province’s Labour Minister, Jean Boulet.

Bill’s Controversial Provisions Spark Outrage

The proposed legislation aims to categorize union dues into mandatory and optional fees. Under this framework, activities that are not directly related to a union’s core functions—such as negotiating collective agreements or addressing working conditions—would not be eligible for financing through mandatory dues. Instead, these activities could only be funded through optional dues, which would require a majority vote from union members prior to collection.

Patrick Gloutney, president of the Quebec branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), characterized the introduction of the bill as a declaration of war against labour unions. He stated, “Jean Boulet is going to create chaos like never before.” His union represents approximately 143,000 workers in Quebec and is among over 30 unions affiliated with the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), which hosted the press conference.

Impact on Union Operations and Rights

Union representatives argue that the bill represents a frontal attack on workers’ rights. Magali Picard, president of the FTQ, highlighted the potential administrative burdens the legislation would impose on unions. “Do you think the labour minister, who’s been there for the last seven years, doesn’t understand our (union dues) structures? He knows them very well. The message is clear: he’s trying to muzzle us,” she remarked.

Minister Boulet introduced the bill at the end of October, claiming it would enhance transparency between unions and their members. He stated, “We want to give workers more reliable access to information because they pay dues and want to know how those dues are being used.”

Under the proposed regulations, activities such as legal challenges to laws, advertising campaigns, or participation in social movements would fall under the optional dues model. Observers within the union community have expressed alarm at the convoluted structure this would create. Renaud Plant from Unifor’s Quebec chapter described it as an “administrative quagmire designed to eliminate us.”

Plant further explained, “Under the bill, if we have an administrative assistant who wants to email a member of Parliament in British Columbia, we would have to have that voted on in advance.” This illustrates the significant barriers the bill could impose on basic union operations.

In addition to the restructuring of dues, the bill also proposes new auditing requirements. Unions with at least 200 members would be mandated to present audited financial statements to their members. Union leaders have cautioned that the costs associated with these audits could be prohibitive for smaller unions.

The upcoming parliamentary hearings on the bill, set to start on Tuesday, will provide an opportunity for union leaders and other stakeholders to present their perspectives on this contentious legislation. The outcome of these discussions could have lasting implications for the future of union operations and workers’ rights in Quebec.