The FTQ-Construction will not finance a convoy of protesters against the health measures related to COVID-19, despite a request to this effect sent by the union representative on the North Shore, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier.
Monday evening, in a video that he posted online, the representative of the heavy machinery operators of the FTQ-Construction on the North Shore, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier, had announced his intention to participate in a regional convoy to Quebec to protest against sanitary measures. He said he wanted to be supported financially by his major union, the FTQ-Construction.
However, in an interview with The Canadian Press on Tuesday, the general manager of the FTQ-Construction, Éric Boisjoly, indicated that “no”, the big union will not provide financial support for this operation.
The FTQ-Construction represents 43% of construction workers throughout Quebec.
Although he says he supports the right to demonstrate and express his opinions, Mr. Boisjoly painted a broader picture of the general weariness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everyone in the Quebec people is tired of that. Everyone has a little nausea in there, ”agreed Mr. Boisjoly.
Nevertheless, we must show solidarity more than ever, he pleaded.
“This situation is precarious for people in health, but also for the sick who are on load shedding. This is where the FTQ-Construction wants to show solidarity: to the patients who are relieved and also to the people who work in the health sector,” summarized Mr. Boisjoly.
The union leader also says he respects the choice of those who refuse to be vaccinated, but stresses that it is not the responsibility of the FTQ-Construction to question the directives of Public Health.
Nor the FTQ in general
As for the FTQ, although some media have reported that it had been asked to finance the convoy, the labor federation told The Canadian Press that it had not received any request to that effect from Mr. Gauthier. .
Anyway, she reiterated the message she has had since the start of the pandemic, namely that she asks people to get vaccinated and to respect sanitary measures.
It should be noted that the FTQ also represents thousands of health care workers, including beneficiary attendants, through two other of its major unions, namely the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Syndicat québécois des of service (SQEES).