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From April 22 to 24 in Quebec City, Unifor delegates from across the province gathered for the Quebec Council, held this year under the theme of the environment. Without being limited to that theme, discussions addressed the full range of issues affecting workers in a rapidly changing economic and social context.
Under the leadership of Council Chair Sophie Albert, the proceedings were conducted with rigour and efficiency. She guided the work with confidence, fostering dynamic, respectful exchanges grounded in the realities of members.
The Council opened with a report from Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier, who outlined the current challenges marked by trade tensions, pressure on key industries, and the urgency of advancing a just transition. He emphasized that workers must be at the heart of the solutions.
“Our jobs meet essential needs. The real question is not whether we can reconcile the economy and the environment, but how we do it and above all, how we protect our people through this transition,.” Cloutier told delegates.
Discussions quickly highlighted a shared reality: economic transformations are real, but they must happen with workers, not at their expense. From forestry to aerospace to manufacturing, issues related to jobs, working conditions and the cost of living were central to the conversations.
National President Lana Payne addressed delegates, underscoring the importance of solidarity and mobilization in the face of today’s economic, environmental and political challenges.
“I know what we are capable of when we work together. We can build industrial strategies where workers are at the table, not on the menu. We can meet today’s needs while advancing a vision of a resilient and caring economy. This is the Canada and Quebec we believe in, and it’s the Canada and Quebec we will continue to fight for,.”said Payne.
Throughout the presentations, several key issues were explored, including the challenges of the climate transition and the role unions must play as agents of change, as well as the state of employment insurance, from temporary measures to ongoing struggles, underscoring that protecting workers remains an ongoing fight.
Workshops on the national bargaining program and several other presentations rounded out the discussions, giving members the opportunity to share their realities and contribute to a collective reflection.
Beyond the discussions, one message came through loud and clear: mobilization matters. As the May 2 march in Montreal approaches, organized as part of International Workers’ Day, the Council served as a rallying point to remind everyone that gains are never made alone—they are built together, in the streets and at the bargaining table.
The Quebec Council concluded on this note: clear-eyed about the challenges but firmly focused on action. In a time of rapid change, one thing remains certain: workers must be at the centre of the decisions shaping the future.
