*Borrowed from ancient Greek kakistos (“worst”), with the suffix -cracy (“government”). The choice of spelling is deliberate. It aims to denounce the CAQ.
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Since the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government came to power, Quebec workers have faced unprecedented attacks. Already in 2020, Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour, introduced Bill 59. This very poorly named “Act to modernize the occupational health and safety regime” instead proposes setbacks compared to the current regime, particularly for women. The Act classifies female-dominated sectors as low-risk and imposes additional constraints on the “safe maternity” program. Fortunately, the mobilization of the working class prevented the worst setbacks.
The Act was sanctioned in October 2021 and its new provisions are expected to come into force gradually until October 2025. By that date, all provisions and new regulations must be in effect. During this 4-year period, the CNESST (Commission for standards for equity, occupational health and safety) must draft and have the regulations approved on a parity basis. In other words, employer organizations and union organizations discuss to reach a consensus. These mechanisms are far from perfect – and many voices are raised to criticize the imbalance they represent for the working class. However, the principles of this social partnership are deeply embedded in the Quebec vision of labor relations, and central labor organizations comply with them.
But the dismantling of labor laws orchestrated by Minister Boulet – who, in civilian life, is an employer-side lawyer – does not stop there. In February 2025, he introduced Bill 89, An Act to better consider the needs of the population in the event of a strike or lockout, and in April 2025, Bill 101, An Act to improve certain labor laws. It should be noted that other similar bills have been introduced by the minister and his cronies, but we will focus here on these last two acts.
Bill 89
The minister did not consult, nor even inform, union organizations about the imminent introduction of Bill 89. This bill further limits the right to strike and the right to associate. However, the right to strike is already very limited in Quebec: only unionized workers have access to it (40%) and only when the collective agreement has expired. And provided they are not in a sector with essential services. With this act, the minister will be able to interfere in negotiations and force a return to work under the pretext of protecting the population. Even in the United States, non-unionized workers have the right to engage in a concerted work stoppage if the employer has abusive practices at any time.
For organizations and groups representing workers, there is only one possible response: repeal this act and campaign to allow the working class to strike whenever it wants!
Bill 101
Bill 101 will amend 9 labor-related acts, including occupational health and safety acts, even the very recent Act 27. This new bill attacks the working class on several fronts. We will cover only a few here.
And, despite François Legault’s decision to prorogue the parliamentary session, rumors are rife, and everything suggests that this bill will be resumed when the government returns to work.
Workplace Prevention
Health, social services, and education workers will have an inferior occupational health and safety regime compared to others. Indeed, their health and safety representatives will have less power and time for prevention. This measure had been discussed and rejected by CNESST committees because it opens the door to systemic discrimination against women. Indeed, the CNESST Board of Directors had reached a consensus on a regulation that was adopted by the Council of Ministers on September 10. However, Bill 101 will eliminate the mechanisms for health, social services, and education workers. The majority of health, social services, and education personnel are women. This provision of the act makes invisible work-related accidents and illnesses affecting women. And when it’s invisible, employers tend to consider that it doesn’t exist. Once again, Minister Boulet shows that he has no problem enacting a sexist law.
Fines
The fines imposed (bad faith negotiations, “illegal” strike or lockout, use of scabs, etc.) on both workers and their organizations, as well as on employers, will be increased. However, the rate of increase is almost three times higher for the working class. This is clearly a strategy to limit the power of unions to act.
Grievances and Arbitration
Grievance and arbitration deadlines will be reduced, or even imposed. Indeed, the act stipulates the obligation to refer any grievance to arbitration within 6 months of filing the grievance. If this is not done, there is a possibility that the union will be deemed to have withdrawn the grievance. This provision increases the financial and logistical burden on a union, not to mention that there are not enough arbitrators in place to handle the additional workload at the Administrative Labour Tribunal (TAT). The CAQ is implementing a system doomed to fail, aimed at paralyzing unions with paperwork.
Facilitators
A few months ago, the CNESST attempted to establish a “facilitator” system that would allow workers who contested a decision to negotiate an agreement. Several organizations strongly criticized this measure, which was not necessarily to the advantage of workplace accident victims. The minister is bringing it back by embedding it in his bill. This system is highly problematic because it places the CNESST in a position of judge and party – let’s not forget that the CNESST must administer compensation funds for workplace accident victims, which means it has every interest in compensating as little as possible. Furthermore, if a worker obtains an agreement, it must remain confidential and cannot be challenged. Keeping situations secret means that a collective problem could remain individual and prevent the detection of a recurrent pattern in company policies. Experience shows us that in case of dispute, workers regularly obtain better compensation than what the CNESST proposed.
Contempt for the Working Class
On the one hand, successive governments cut into our social safety net, and on the other, they implement freedom-restricting laws to prevent us from protesting.
The strategies used by the minister to bypass Quebec institutions are blatant. He alone decides the fate of the working class and grants himself the right to manage any labor dispute as he pleases, no longer even pretending to respect workers.
Knowing that in just over a year, the next provincial elections will take place and that the CAQ is plummeting in the polls, one has to wonder if Boulet isn’t preparing two or three small laws that will please his employer friends, which will guarantee him a golden parachute to return to his practice as an employer-side lawyer.
Seeing the contempt shown by the Minister of Labour towards our expertise in parity bodies, is it still necessary to sit on them just to be spat upon? Wouldn’t the time we spend being pawns of social partnership be better used to massively inform and mobilize the working class against these attacks?
One thing is certain: we must reject any rollback of our rights with the full force of our solidarity.