CAQ wants to undermine union dues
The CAQ wants to undermine the process of union dues, making some of them voluntary. They’d love nothing better than to weaken labour rights generally.
The CAQ wants to undermine the process of union dues, making some of them voluntary. They’d love nothing better than to weaken labour rights generally.
roberto 10:26 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
Remember the FAE teachers (november 2023) that had NO strike fund when they went on strike. The employer wants a weak and unfunded opposition at the negotiating table.
Meezly 11:29 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
In 2022, 37.3% of Quebec’s workforce was covered by a collective bargaining agreement. That’s a lot of potential voters. Doesn’t make sense why they still want to antagonize them, but I’m sure workers will remember next time election rolls around.
Tim S. 13:05 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
They’ve clearly given up on re-election, just helping out their friends on the way out.
Ian 13:20 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
A little revenge-flavoured union busting sounds right in the CAQ wheelhouse.
Em 16:49 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
I’m not sure making some dues voluntary will antagonize all unionized voters. Plenty of people would be happy to see a little less deducted from their pay, even if it’s not the best decision in the long run AND even if union dues are mostly tax deductible.
Nicholas 17:43 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
Surprisingly no mention in the article of the Rand Formula, the 1946 arbitration agreement principle that requires non-members of a closed shop to pay dues. It’s been incorporated into the law of Quebec since the late 70s, and is required federally and in all provinces but AB, NB, NS and PE. Even then, most collective agreements incorporate it regardless as a standard clause, so I doubt this will change much. It was created as a compromise between employers and labour, also banning wildcat strikes, and you better believe if the government tried to strike it down here there would be a general strike of the likes you’ve never seen in your lifetime in Canada.
Chris 20:36 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
One should not assume that all union members even want to be in their union. I have friends that hate their union, find it useless, and resent the dues taken. They are probably a minority, but they exist.
Tim S. 22:01 on 2025-09-24 Permalink
Yes Chris, that’s exactly why the Rand formula exists. They can hate union, but they still benefit from it.
MarcG 07:08 on 2025-09-25 Permalink
Same individualistic, society-breaking stuff as “I don’t want to pay taxes for services I don’t use”.
Kate 18:01 on 2025-09-25 Permalink
Excellent point, MarcG.
Ian 20:51 on 2025-09-25 Permalink
Hey, like bicyclists being mad that cars get to use roads that our entire food delivery, emergency vehicle srvices, and public transtit system rely on.