The Public Service Alliance of Canada, Quebec Region (PSAC-Quebec), is disappointed with the recent Administrative Labour Tribunal (ALT) decision on organizing unpaid interns in Quebec schools. The ALT refused applications for accreditation filed on April 23, 2023 by groups from six school service centres, ruling that the interns are not considered employees under the Labour Code.
“It’s extremely disappointing. These unpaid interns perform work and are fully integrated into and dependent on the schools,” said Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec.
The ALT held that unpaid interns are neither performing work for the school service centres nor supervised by school principals, and that they are not employees as defined in the Code. As a result, it rejected their applications for certification.
PSAC-Quebec is preparing to file an application for review.
“We are committed to doing everything in our power to right this wrong. Why shouldn’t this women-dominated group have the right to organize and negotiate their working conditions, including wages, for the work performed during internships?”, asked the union representative.
In the past, PSAC-Quebec has fought battles to have teaching and research assistants and post-doctoral fellows recognized as employees. Just recently, it won a significant victory regarding the right of post-doctoral fellows at Université Laval to participate in the pay equity process.
To see the Administrative Labour Tribunal decision (in French only):