The Confederation of Faculty Associations of McGill—composed of four McGill University faculty associations—has filed a court challenge against the Government of Quebec’s Bill 89. La Presse explains that the bill expands the services that must be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout and gives the QC Minister of Labour the power to terminate a work stoppage. The faculty associations are seeking to overturn the law as unconstitutional and invalid. McGill Professor Barry Eidlin said that this law “erodes the very foundation on which collective bargaining occurs in Quebec,” as employers have many ways to leverage power over workers while workers can only collectively withhold labour. CBC says that other unions are also planning legal action against the bill, which is set to take effect this November.
