This text is part of the special booklet 33rd congress of the FTQ
Uberization, child labor, social struggles, the post-pandemic world of work… The menu is loaded for the union milieu and, by their own admission, the leaders of the FTQ are currently at a crossroads, even considering the questioning of identity and mission of the plant as the first quarter of the 21st quarter draws to a closee century.
It is in this spirit that the 33e FTQ Convention, with nothing less than the future of trade unionism as the main theme. And this vast program will require one of the most precious assets of the FTQ: its youth wing.
Each generation wrongly blames the next for all of Earth’s ills, with the accusation of “individualism” topping the list. But are young people under 25 really more individualistic than their ancestors? The question remains open, but it is said that they would be more and more “individualized”, more oriented towards information technologies and social networks. In this context, how to bring young people towards a paragon of collectivism such as trade union action? According to data from the Chaire-Réseau de Recherche sur la Jeunesse du Québec, the unionization rate of young people is around 35%, slightly lower than the Quebec average of 39%, according to employment data from 2019 from the Interuniversity Center for Research in Analysis of Organizations (CIRANO).
In the case of activists Michel Du Cap and Benjamin Sweeney, the flame was lit by chance encounters with history: the student strikes of 2005 and 2012 respectively. Kathia Narcisse, of the Canadian Union of Professional and Office Employees (COPE), got the bug gradually, but, as she says herself, she “entered [son] full arm in gear”.
Now technical advisor to the FTQ’s youth committee, Mr. Du Cap believes it is essential to pass the torch to the new generation of militant workers, because the challenges are great, starting with a dichotomy between values and consumption patterns. , including Amazon. “Young people are aware of this, and that is why they are especially interested in models such as the social economy,” explains Mr. Du Cap. They look for models that prioritize meeting a need rather than achieving profits. »
And how do we join them? You fight fire with fire, according to Mr. Sweeney, for his part a member of the young workers committee of the National Council of the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers). “Before, for example, we would never have thought of using text messages to mobilize our members. Now we are doing it, and we are already seeing the results,” he says. Mr. Du Cap, he evokes what seems to be a strong argument. He said to them, “Do you want to contribute to the organization or do you want to be organized? »
Social issues at work, a priority for young people
“Young people are certainly mobilizing for working conditions, but also around issues of intergenerational equity and disparities in treatment, particularly on pension plans,” explains Ms.me Narcissus. “The gains made in the past allow them to focus on other issues, such as work-family balance, and, yes, claims that affect their personal life more. » Systemic racism and sexism in the workplace? The three are unanimous: the subject is a priority, just as much as the climate emergency.
Trade unionism in general thus faces a great challenge, especially in the context of the rise of the political right and anti-union discourse. For these unionists involved in the youth committee, the convention must listen to what the next generation will say in the name of the fairness for which they are fighting, while waiting for the Week of the next generation of unions, which will take place next April.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, relating to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.
This special content was produced by Le Devoir’s special publications team, reporting to marketing. The editorial staff of Le Devoir did not take part.