CUPE denounces abusive police repression at the Quebec Port

[Link] Quebec Port longshore workers greeted cruise ship passengers with a "smoke show" to draw attention to their labour conflict that has dragged on for more than two years. The CUPE denounces the abusive police repression that took place during this legal demonstration.

"We vehemently denounce this repression. We informed the police that we would be showing up there. I was right beside the persons who were arrested, and like the rest of us, they were just demonstrating and shouting their indignation at an employer that holds its workers in contempt," explained Frédéric Brisson, the general secretary of CUPE Quebec.

September 15 marked the second unfortunate anniversary of this historic labour conflict, which is believed to be one of the longest in the history of the Quebec City region. The Société des arrimeurs de Québec locked out the 81 longshore workers, who were demanding better work-life balance.

"The Quebec Port longshore workers, our colleagues (CUPE 2614), have been locked out for two years now. For the past two years, they've been mired in an intense battle and have experienced uncertainty and made sacrifices. It is simply unacceptable that they've had to go through this. When you get down to it, what have these workers done to deserve this? Their only "fault" is having defended their rights, dignity and their jobs," added Brisson.

This lockout has gone on because there is no legislation on the books that bans replacement workers. This will no longer be the case next year, because new legislation prohibiting this practice will take effect in June 2025. But in the meantime, 81 people are still in the street and scorned by their employer.