PSAC-Quebec joins other unions in denouncing the Quebec government’s intention to interfere with union dues. This flailing government is acting purely out of ideology, ignoring the population’s actual concerns—namely health, education, cost of living, and affordable housing.
“This attack on the labour movement is a smokescreen and serves neither our members nor the population as a whole,” said Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec. “This is clearly a strategy to avoid talking about the real issues in the year leading up to the next election.”
Unions are duty-bound to negotiate collective agreements and ensure their members are fairly represented with an employer. Nothing prevents them from also taking political action on behalf of their members.
Article 1 of the Labour Code states that a union exists for “the study, safeguarding and development of the economic, social and educational interests of its members”. These goals can only be achieved through member communications and education, public awareness campaigns, political action with elected officials, and legal challenges.
“The CAQ wants to limit our scope of action because we are the last bulwark against government authoritarian overreach,” added Paquette. “The government pretends to act in the interests of transparency, which is ironic given its efforts to muzzle the groups demanding governmental transparency. Coming from a government that claims to want to slash bureaucracy and red tape, this bill would have the opposite effect by creating a surge in proceedings before the Administrative Labour Tribunal (ALT).”
Trade unions are democratic organizations. Union officers are elected by secret ballot and financial statements are transparently shared with members. Members are consulted on union decisions at the annual general meeting (AGM) and throughout the year.
This bill would allow members to file a complaint if they are dissatisfied with how a portion of their union handles their dues. These complaints would be processed through the ALT, which would monopolize its limited resources.
Important: FTQ’s reaction to the tabling of Bill 3 on ‘union transparency’ (in French only)
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What does it mean for PSAC-Quebec if the bill is passed?
Much remains unclear about Minister Boulet’s bill. Here’s what we know:
- Locals with units under the Quebec Labour Code would be affected.
- Members of those units “will have to” agree that part of their membership fees can be used for political action.
- Members will have to collectively decide whether their dues can be used for political action.
- For PSAC overall, the dues affected by this legislation could amount to between $1.50 and $2.50 per member per month.
- Note, however, that it is currently difficult to make an accurate calculation, as we do not yet know how the bill will define political action.
PSAC-Quebec represents about twenty locals, including roughly thirty units under the Quebec Labour Code. A total of about 25,000 members could be affected by this ideologically driven government measure.
Beyond CAQ ideology: the social contract built upon employer deduction of union dues
Before the 1940s, unions collected members’ dues by hand every month and could call a strike at any time.
Following a major strike in Ontario in the 1940s, Justice Ivan Rand ruled that employers would deduct and forward union dues monthly, free of charge. This ruling was called the Rand Formula. Everyone working in a unit would pay dues, regardless of whether they were union members. In exchange, Judge Rand ordered, unions would only be granted the right to strike after their collective agreement expired.
So began the social contract: while union fees were deducted by the employer, unions agreed not to strike while a collective agreement remained in effect.
To this day, the Rand Formula has been the cornerstone of all labour legislation in Canada.
Is the CAQ reneging on their Rand Formula obligations?
See our video on Rand Fromula to learn more