(Quebec) The president of Force jeunesse, Simon Telles, does not mince his words. If François Legault does not abolish the disparity of treatment clauses by the end of the parliamentary session, the government of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) will have “betrayed” Quebec youth, blowing the embers of cynicism at the same time. towards politicians.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
This warning issued in an interview with The Press comes as the Prime Minister will answer questions from the opposition this Wednesday during the study of budget appropriations for the youth component. “Mr. Legault is on his way to breaking his promise. We are very worried. It would be a hard blow for young people if this commitment is not respected, ”insists Mr. Telles.
Since the adoption of a law by the previous Liberal government, unions and employers can no longer negotiate clauses in collective agreements that deprive younger workers of advantages granted to employees hired before them. In order to avoid labor disputes, employers and employees have, for example, agreed in the past to impose a less advantageous pension plan on new staff simply on the basis of a hiring date.
Although this practice is now prohibited, clauses that were negotiated before the adoption of the law are still permitted and in force. According to data collected by Force jeunesse, which dates from 2019, there are still more than 80 pension plans with such disparities in Quebec. The organization estimates that they affect around 15,000 young workers.
Election promise
During his most recent election campaign and on a few occasions since, François Legault reiterated his intention to abolish the disparity of treatment clauses. The Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Jean Boulet, also requested an opinion from the labor and workforce advisory committee.
In letters sent by Force jeunesse to the CAQ government in recent months, the organization reminds us that “the status quo is not an option in the context of this file” and that “the absence of action in regarding disparity of treatment clauses would risk undermining the confidence of young workers in your government, which has nevertheless promised them to act”.
Unless the Minister of Labor or the Prime Minister pulls a rabbit out of their hats by the end of the parliamentary session, for the moment, nothing tells us that this file will be resolved. It contributes to the cynicism that young people have towards politics.
Simon Telles, president of Force jeunesse
“What we want is to give the employer and union parties time to negotiate the abolition of the disparity of treatment clauses by finding plans which, even if they are distinct, are equivalent. This is not a theoretical issue. This is an issue that affects many young people,” he adds.
Historical issue
The question of disparity of treatment clauses (often called “orphan” clauses) is not new. Members of the CAQ government, such as the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, and even François Legault’s chief of staff, Martin Koskinen, have campaigned within Force jeunesse on this subject in the past.
When it was in opposition, the Coalition avenir Québec also tabled a bill in response to that of the Liberal government of the time, proposing to abolish the disparity of treatment clauses once and for all.
“We were therefore convinced that by having a government of the CAQ, this file would be quickly settled,” laments the president of Force jeunesse.