SEPT-ILES, QC, June 3, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – The Quebec Federation of Labor (FTQ) of the North Shore is indignant at the comments made by the former vice-president of human resources at the Aluminerie Alouette in Sept-Îles, Gilles Blouinwho proudly declared in an interview with TVA Côte-Nord “ we fought social cancer for many years “, talking about attempts to unionize the factory. You really have to be full of yourself to say such nonsense.
« To say such nonsense shows a total lack of understanding of the role that labor organizations play in Quebec society and brings to light the anti-union doctrine of the company since its inception. Cancer is a terrible disease, many people who are dear to us are fighting cancer, some have not survived it. It’s shameful and hurtful to compare cancer to the labor movement » affirms the regional adviser of the FTQ, Pascal Langlois.
Unions have always had a positive leverage effect for society. ” Everyone in Sept-Îles, the workers, as well as the unions, have also worked and campaigned for the arrival of Aluminerie Alouette here. Some businessmen and politicians do not have the exclusive right to carry out this project, but the whole region, let’s not forget “, adds the regional representative of the FTQ.
In addition, unionized workers here spend their wages here, like the majority of people. We have contributed and continue to contribute to our local economy, because we live here and we care about the economic development of our region, of our city.
« With a unionization rate of 48% on the North Shore, the former executive of Alouette has just told many workers that they are just a disease that must be eradicated. I dare to hope that this archaic way of looking at unions no longer has a place in Quebec companies. The good news is that Mr. Blouin is retired “, continues Pascal Langlois.
« The management of the Aluminerie Alouette must denounce and condemn the comments made by its former manager. Aluminerie Alouette is an important company in Sept-Îles and it must work for social peace and demonstrate that it does not see half of the workers here as “cancer social” concludes the regional representative.
The FTQ, the largest labor federation in Quebec, represents more than 600,000 workers.
SOURCE FTQ
For further information: Source: FTQ Côte-Nord; For further information: Pascal Langlois, 418-409-6141, [email protected]
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