This text is part of the special brochure on syndicalism

The pandemic and labor shortages: two major pitfalls for worker health and safety.

Worldwide is the 1^ah May Day, International Labor Day, is a public holiday. “Except in the United States and Canada,” laments Caroline Senneville, President of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), while this commemoration is “as important as March 8 is for women.”

Ironically, the roots of this day go to the heart of American labor history: in Chicago, workers started their march on November 1st^ah May 1886 to demand a working time limited to eight hours a day. “Back then, Caroline Senneville recalls, unions were often considered illegal. This gave the police authorities full leeway to violently repress them.

Holidays or not, these days matter, a matter of showing the way the claims of the past have traveled. The CSN President, in office since June 2021, also notes that April 28 is a national day of mourning in Canada to commemorate all those who died, were injured or became ill at work. “Every year the statistics show the importance of health and safety in the workplace. A death or an amputation, it stimulates the imagination, but let’s not forget the wear and tear: being forced to repeat the same gestures every day can also injure you. »

The labor shortage: Danger in the making

Bad luck is good for something, as the saying goes. The combined effects of runaway inflation and labor shortages in virtually every sector of the economy give the CSN’s 320,000 members a certain balance of power, including over wages. However, this scarcity phenomenon is only new to those who have never bothered to listen to union demands or pay close attention to the profound changes taking place in various workplaces. Not without compromising the health and safety of those who must be on the front lines.

“We no longer count the number of negotiations where we sound the alarm about labor shortages,” denounces Caroline Senneville. These discussions have been going on for decades, and by denigrating public sector workers and degrading their working conditions, we end up with an incredible number of vacancies, particularly in the health and education sectors. »

While part of the population still harbors negative prejudices against government employees, many others understand their strategic importance and essential contribution to the smooth functioning of society. “During the pandemic, many factory directors and managers have been very anxious for schools to finally open their doors because they have been struggling to work without the availability of all their workers. Even today, many manufacturers refuse orders because their staff is not sufficient to fulfill them. »

Citizens are often frustrated “because public services are not outside of the economy,” the President of the CSN specifies. “When one educator has to look after 40 children in a day care center or an emergency closes due to staff shortages, it affects the entire population and the entire economy is not functioning at its full potential. For quality services it is necessary to invest the necessary funds. “With key salaries that reflect the importance.

In this regard, Caroline Senneville has high hopes for the ongoing negotiations. This time, the CSN has chosen to join a new united front, with the input of the Quebec Central Unions, the Federation of Quebec Workers and the Alliance of Professional and Technical Health Personnel and social services. This task force has 420,000 members and speaks with one voice.

“Whether we are talking about technological changes, teleworking or reducing our carbon footprint, we need a vision that is both comprehensive and detailed, to be taken into account in the medium and long term,” affirms the President of the CSN. We must not miss the turn of the job transformation, because we risk falling into the ditch! »

This special content was created by the Special Publications team at Duty, Marketing related. The elaboration of Duty did not participate.

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