Quebec’s main unions say they’re able to re-examine their function, as they give the impression of being to reconnect with members and higher display their relevance in at present’s society.
Some 500 individuals are anticipated to attend a symposium in Drummondville on Tuesday and Wednesday, as a part of the Common Meeting of Commerce Unionism.
They may proceed the reflection, launched a number of months in the past, on commerce unionism, after having consulted 1000’s of their members, and even past, on what commerce unionism ought to be at present.
These basic assemblies are supported by 9 commerce union organizations: the APTS and the FIQ, within the subject of well being and social providers, the SPGQ and the SFPQ, within the subject of the general public service, in addition to the 4 centrals: FTQ, CSN, CSQ and CSD, in addition to the FAE.
“I’m telling you: there’s no agenda. That implies that the FTQ is presenting itself on the Estates Common; we’ve launched them in listening mode, and for actual, and able to change. That implies that we are able to’t write the minutes of the Estates Common earlier than they’re completed; it’s an actual session,” assured Magali Picard, president of the FTQ, in an interview.
On the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), President Mélanie Hubert added: “The general public ought to take away from the method underway among the many unions; it’s ‘we’re able to questioning ourselves, we’re able to seeing that we’re encountering issues; we’re able to listening to the criticism of the members we characterize, too’.”
The picture of unions, their function in society, the means by which they impart with their members and with the general public, the way in which they exert their stress, the place they provide to younger individuals and underrepresented teams, every little thing is on the desk, says Robert Comeau, president of the Alliance of Skilled and Technical Employees in Well being and Social Companies (APTS).
“I believe the picture of unionism must be renewed. We have to modernize, each in our approaches and in the way in which we talk, to get nearer to our members, who’re generally, maybe, from minority teams, who could also be much less acquainted with our function as a union in society. So, it’s actually an train in consciousness, in order that we are able to collectively change. As a result of the objective of all this isn’t to remain the way in which we’re and say that we’re good and intelligent. The objective of all that is to ask ourselves the actual questions,” Comeau summarized.
These unions additionally wish to discover methods to spice up member participation outdoors of negotiation intervals. The widespread adoption of distant work has additionally modified the sport, creating distance between staff and making mobilization tougher.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews