After having opened the door to the idea of imposing a day of work during a strike or lockout in the food processing sector, the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, quickly put the lid on the pot.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois had not completely closed the door to this request from the food processing industry, during a meeting last week with the Union des producteurs agricole (UPA) in Longueuil.
Imposing one day work during a strike or lockout in the food processing sector would prevent food waste after a series of recent labor disputes in the dairy, industrial pork and poultry, depending on the industry.
The aspiring prime minister opened the door for the first time last week during a meeting with the UPA in Longueuil. The first president of Quebec pork breeders, Yvan Fréchette, had asked Mr. Nadeau-Dubois if he was open to the idea of imposing one day of work per week during a labor dispute to avoid waste and “provide a minimum service”. “We are talking about the creation of a law to ensure a minimum service,” he added.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois replied that this was the first time he had heard this proposal. “I’m open to seeing that. I’m open to discussing it. »
Subsequently, the candidate stressed the importance of reducing concentration in the food processing industry, which makes the supply chain vulnerable during a labor dispute. Questioned afterwards, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois said he needed more time to read the proposal.
A few days later, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois has still not decided on the creation of a law forcing a minimum service from employees during a labor dispute. The unions are opposed to this proposal.
“The truth is that I did not have time to analyze the specific measure on which I was arrested,” replied Mr. Nadeau-Dubois, Monday, during a press briefing in Chibougamau. . “The commitment I made to the UPA is to watch it. I will do it. »
After the article appeared, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois sent a written statement to The Canadian Press. He said it would be up to the courts to determine whether work in the food processing sector could be considered essential work. “It’s not up to politicians to decide that, we won’t be partisan. »
A weakened balance of power?
Luc Vachon, president of the Central of Democratic Trade Unions (CSD), said he was surprised that a party considered favorable to workers did not close the door immediately. The measure would have had the effect of unbalancing the balance of power to the disadvantage of the workers. “There will no longer be a balance of power. The real question that then arises, if we do that, how would we organize ourselves so that it is not done to the detriment of the workers and the balance of power? »
He adds that if workers were forced to work one day a week, the weakening of the balance of power could have the effect of stretching labor disputes. “It would make the disputes last much longer, because a strike would not have the same impact. »
Like Mr. Nadeau-Dubois, he identifies the concentration of the food industry as one of the reasons why labor disputes lead to a risk of food waste while employers find themselves in a monopoly situation.
For example, Olymel and Exceldor share about 96% of the chicken slaughtering capacity and Olymel controls 80% of the pork processing industry.
On the side of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), the national representative, Roxanne Larouche, believes that the strikes are not to blame for food waste. “Food waste does not occur because there is a strike, but because there is an absence of a contingency plan. Employers have a large share of responsibility in this equation by condoning food waste to blame it on strikers, ”she argues.
“Every company should be required to put in place a contingency plan in the event of a production interruption,” she continues. If a disaster, whether natural or accidental, damaged a factory, would a company waste food until it is renovated or rebuilt? Certainly not ! »