Close to 350 delegates attended the Unifor Quebec Council held in Montreal over the past few days. In his report, Quebec Director Michel Ouimet stressed the importance of our commitment and involvement in all spheres of society, including the political sphere. Referring to the numerous attacks launched by the Harper government, he urged members to mobilize with the aim of getting rid of the Conservatives in the federal elections slated for 2015, stating: “as unionists and as a labour organization, we can make a difference. One of our roles is to contribute to debates aimed at improving services to the population and to society in general and at making the world of today and tomorrow a better place.”
Jerry Dias also called on members to get involved, saying that “by taking strategic action, we can obtain tangible results in the political arena. This country has taken a turn to the right and it is up to progressive people like us to reverse this trend.”
Participants also had the opportunity to take part in workshops on concrete measures for fighting back against the anti-labour sentiment sweeping the country. The discussions highlighted several courses of action that local unions have already tested or are planning to implement. This exercise was part of a member-to-member campaign aimed at raising awareness about rights at work.
Several motions were discussed, along with the recommendations submitted by the Quebec Director. Guest speakers also discussed the issue of the right and the left in the country and the tools made available by the member-to-member campaign.
The delegates also participated actively in the march organized to celebrate May 1st, International Workers’ Day, alongside other unions from the Montreal region.