The statue of Jean Lapierre, a famous union leader with controversial methods, was removed Wednesday from in front of the building of the Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal, on avenue Papineau, which wants to dissociate itself from it.
Posted at 4:10 p.m.
By making this “historic gesture”, the union wants to send the message that it “embodies a renewed movement” and that it wants to redefine its “public image”, indicates a press release issued by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) , which oversees the blue collar union (local unit 301).
Jean Lapierre was head of the Montreal union from 1985 to 2003. The bronze statue was erected in 2003 following his retirement.
PHOTO ARCHIVES PRESS
Jean Lapierre in front of the statue erected in his honor.
“The story of 301 is not the story of a single man, but the story of thousands of City of Montreal employees who stood up for better working conditions. In a world where inequalities are constantly growing, we are making this strong gesture to remind us that we are the friend of the people and that we want a social project that has everyone’s interests at heart,” said said union president Luc Bisson in a statement.
It was impossible to speak to Mr. Bisson to find out more about his union’s new philosophy.
Riot at City Hall
The reign of Jean Lapierre as president of the union was marked by numerous clashes with successive municipal administrations: strikes, acts of sabotage and demonstrations.
In 1993, while negotiations with the administration of Mayor Jean Doré stalled, members of the union stormed the town hall by breaking down the doors using battering rams. Jean Lapierre received a six-month prison sentence following this riot. He will spend thirty days behind bars in 1999.
In 1994, blue-collar workers spread garbage in the streets of the city and on Mount Royal. Jean Lapierre and 24 blue collar workers will be charged with contempt of court.
After his retirement in 2003, Mr. Lapierre will be made an honorary life member of the union and will continue to work there.
What will happen to the statue? “We are going to take the time to reflect collectively on how to dispose of the statue. We cannot erase history, but we can talk about it differently, ”said Luc Bisson, in the press release issued by his union.