Quebec unions prepare for election battle as top two parties seen as ‘anti-worker’
MONTREAL — Quebec’s labour movement is gearing up ahead of the October election as it faces the prospect of another four years with limited influence in the provincial government.
Almost 40 per cent of workers in Quebec are unionized, yet the two parties leading in opinion polls are considered far from union-friendly.
The governing Liberals triggered deep cuts in the health and education sectors early in their mandate.
And while the Coalition Avenir Quebec, which is first in the polls, has tempered its previously strident position against unions, that has not assuaged workers’ concerns about the party’s intentions if it obtains power.