Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet denies wanting a “confrontation” with the unions or a “declaration of war.”
Premier François Legault asked him during his reshuffle last week to have “the courage to modernize the union system,” which labour groups perceived as a frontal attack.
The premier even suggested in an interview with LCN that he was ready to wage “war” on the unions.
“This is not a declaration of war,” Boulet repeated during a brief press scrum on Wednesday before heading to the cabinet meeting.
Related: • François Legault’s new cabinet unveiled Wednesday afternoon • STM maintenance workers to go on strike Sept. 22 to Oct. 5
“This is not a confrontation, it is a balance between the exercise of the right to strike and respect for the basic needs of a population affected b