Ever since François Legault expressed his support for the CAQ youth wing’s proposals targeting unions, we have been on high alert. This government has accustomed us to expect new stunts whenever some group displeases it. It is increasingly clear that the CAQ wants to undermine all the checks and balances that are essential in a democracy. That includes the organized working class. We have been facing attack after attack for years.

This obsession with attacking unions, workers and the most vulnerable members of society is typical of an authoritarian party in decline that is trying to cling to power by any and all means.

Legault is acting like a mini-Trump, using every instrument at his disposal to silence dissent. The misnamed “comité des sages” was an ugly attack on the rights and dignity of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The CAQ’s immigration policies are racially motivated attacks on the rights of immigrants. The laws on religious symbols are Islamophobic and sexist attacks. It is impossible to list all the attacks here, as they have been raining down on us since the CAQ came to power. As our role as a union is to fight for more rights for all, we must stand up against this onslaught and fight back.

Labour law reform

At the time of writing, the latest CAQ attack is on union rights. They want to make a portion of union dues optional. Leaving aside the layers of additional bureaucracy that would have to be put in place for this to work, let’s consider the reform’s goal of preventing unions from participating in social movements “not directly related to representing their members.” It means we would no longer be able to financially support citizens’ groups, advertising campaigns or legal proceedings. Unbelievable.

The CCMM-CSN contributes to many social causes, as do the CSN and its affiliated organizations. The organizations we support include the Union des travailleuses et travailleurs accidentés (UTTAM), which defends injured workers, the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI), the Conseil d’intervention pour l’accès des femmes au travail (CIAFT), which defends women’s rights in the workplace, the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), which defends tenants’ rights (yes, many of our members are tenants) and the Leucan summer camp. These organizations play a vital role in making everyone’s voice heard. If our wings are clipped, only the voice of business will be heard. Corporations will keep all their rights and they have plenty of money to promote their interests.

At the CSN and its affiliated organizations, including the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain, ALL members have the right to see the financial statements, and we have a duty to provide them. Financial transparency is crucial to maintaining the trust of our members. If businesses, government agencies and the CAQ all agreed to open their own books, Québec would be better off.

The CAQ likes to play with words. They call this modernizing the law, but the fact is that making a portion of union dues optional would be a significant setback for the rights of workers, regardless of their profession, origins, gender or political views.

A stratagem to undermine unions

Clearly, the CAQ’s goal with this type of rhetoric is to silence all opposition. If labour unions no longer have the financial tools to defend positions the government doesn’t like—such as maintaining public services—democratic debate is liable to be stifled throughout Québec society. Fewer and fewer organized voices will dare protest for fear of having their funding cut.

The CAQ is also planning to discuss banning encampments and wearing masks during demonstrations. These repressive, authoritarian moves would take us into an Orwellian universe.

The social role of unions will be undermined if we are forced to confine ourselves to collective bargaining. Our role is to promote and defend the interests of workers. And the interests of the working class extend far beyond our conditions of employment: they include our living conditions, our educational opportunities, our healthcare, our retirement and so forth. The victories we have won through broad-based struggles supported by social organizations have often led to social reforms that benefit unionized and non-unionized workers alike.

Corporations have their lobbyists and their connections in ministers’ offices—especially when those ministers are themselves former corporate lawyers, business executives or real estate brokers. Obviously, their interests are not ours. The CAQ serves the interests of the wealthy, not the working class.

The purpose of these laws is to criminalize dissent in Québec society and turn us into sheep in order to enrich business and the CAQ’s friends.

Following in Trump’s footsteps will not solve Québec’s problems—quite the contrary.

Chantal Ide, General Secretary, Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain–CSN