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Over 400 members from across the province gathered in Quebec City on November 23 and 24 as Unifor held its Quebec Council. In his report to delegates, Quebec Director Renaud Gagné delivered a positive assessment of Unifor’s actions during the federal election of October 21. However, he reminded delegates that “even though the election is over, it doesn’t mean our work is finished. Far from it. Our job now is to build strong ties with newly elected officials and to push forward our demands.”
Gagné also provided an update on the main negotiations currently in progress, including talks at Bombardier, Paccar and VIA Rail, as well as on the labour disputes at Vopak and Crustacés de Gaspé. He also reminded members of the numerous lobbying campaigns under way.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: without mobilization, nothing is possible. We need our members actively at our side to make our demands heard,” declared Gagné.
National Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne made a visit to the Council, offering an impressive report on the union’s accomplishments country-wide in the past months. In drawing attention to the incessant attacks by right-wing governments in Ontario and Alberta, she reminded delegates that “we have to be more ambitious than those who are trying to dismantle workers’ rights across Canada. We have to organize people both inside and outside our union. The current context leaves us no other choice.”
During the Council, elections were held for the members of the Quebec Council’s Executive and standing committees. The results of the elections can be found on the Unifor Quebec website. It should be noted that the duration of the Council was short due to the fact that the triennial convention of the Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) was set to start in Quebec City the next day, running from November 25 to 28.
