Johan Boyden
Reprinted from People's Voice Newspaper
Mobilizations to stop the austerity
measures of Philippe Couillard’s Quebec Liberal government got a boost in late
March, after a meeting of the Front Commun, the Common Front of Quebec public
sector trade unions. Then the student movement brought over 70,000 protesters
into the streets on April 2, its largest mobilization since the 2012 strike.
In late March, the Liberal budget presented by Couillard’s finance
minister Carlos Leitao ended any illusions that negotiations could lead to a
victory for public sector unions. Calling the budget “austerity at light
speed,” and a gift to big business, the labour movement condemned the proposals
including a two-year wage freeze. On March 31 the Front Commun concluded
further negotiations would be a dead-end and began mobilizing for a strike.
