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The 18th Quebec Council of Unifor was held in Trois-Rivières from April 26 to 28.
Sophie Albert, the new president of the Quebec Council, chaired her first council since her election in Nov. 2022.
Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier reported on the union's activities over the past six months, including labor disputes among school bus drivers, campaigns on forestry and preserving mountain caribou. He also focused on ongoing and upcoming important negotiations and efforts to lobby governments, showing that Unifor is more active than ever.
The delegates adopted the two recommendations from Cloutier – the first aimed at promoting growth and transformation in the aerospace sector and the second focused on the creation of two sub-committees within the Health, Safety, and Environment Committee.
The first sub-committee will deal with all matters related to health and safety at work and will be named "Unifor-Quebec HSE Committee." The second sub-committee will examine environmental transition issues from a union perspective and will be named "Unifor-Quebec Just Transition Committee."
Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier addressed the delegates at the council.
Other Unifor leaders such as Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle, Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray, Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi, as well as other Unifor staff members and members of the National Executive Board also attended the council.
FTQ President Magali Picard also addressed the delegates.
On Thursday morning, the delegates of the Quebec Council went to the picket line of the Public Service Alliance of Canada to support the members of the Trois-Rivières region in their negotiations.
The striking members of Autobus Longueuil (Local 510) and Autobus Venise (Local 700) also addressed the delegates to bring solidarity in the fight they are currently waging against their common employer.
Pierre Céré, Coordinator of the Montreal Unemployed Committee and Spokesperson for the National Council of Unemployed and Underemployed, said that over 30 years, members have been trapped in a deficient and unfair employment insurance system and been victims of repeated budget cuts.
In the latest budget, the federal government reneged on its commitment to reform the program, he said.
Delegates also observed a moment of silence to commemorate workers who died on the job on the Day of Mourning.
The council concluded with elections for the position of Executive Member Director of the Quebec Council, as well as for vacancies in various council committees.
The next Quebec Council will be held from November 24 to 26 in Quebec City.
