On Dec. 6, two Quebec City branches of the Renaud-Bray bookstore chain went on strike over wages.
Bookstore workers earn only 15 cents above the minimum wage. Some have not even received a pay raise after more than 15 years’ service.
On Feb. 20, we learned that at least seven scabs had been used against union members. The list of strikebreakers includes three managers from other branches.
Mathieu Cardinal, vice-president of the company’s head office, even took the trouble to travel from Montreal to break the strike.
Renaud-Bray’s bosses have done everything in their power to scorn union members. Management sent communiques to the workers, trying to discredit the union. Elsewhere, where branches are not yet unionized, management forbids employees from discussing unionization.
The union president is even reported to have been expelled twice from the bookshop simply for keeping union members informed of negotiations.
Intimidation and attacks on the right to strike and freedom of expression: These are the methods capitalists use to “negotiate” with workers. Once again, the bosses are proving that they don’t care about negotiating. The only way to force them to listen to us is to stop their profits.
–Nicolas D., Quebec City
