Who is eligible to join a union?

All workers can team up to take collective action at work. This is the essence of unionizing.

The majority of workers in Quebec have the right to join a union.

However, the legal protections and entitlements made available by the Quebec Labour Code exclude some types of jobs. Those in management with the power to hire and fire, confidential employees who deal with labour relations, and some types of independent contractors are not covered under the legislation.

If you are not sure about your situation, contact us!

My workplace is very small with less than 25 employees. Am I still allowed to get a union?

Yes! Everyone has the right to join a union regardless of the size of the business employing them. Even if you are the only employee of a business, you have the right to union representation.

How much does this cost?

In order to share the costs of unionization and representation, we rely on membership fees (also called union dues).

Our monthly rates are:

$15 for those earning minimum wage.

$20 for those earning more than minimum wage.

I have other questions about my workplace, my rights, or other labour norms

We recommend visiting La Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) and Éducaloi for general information about labour norms.

Who runs the union?

The General Union is a democratic organization run by the members. We hold an Annual Convention open to all members to elect our union officers . The Executive holds meetings once a month and participates in the day to day running of the union. These meetings are open to all members. Groups of union members working at the same company can form a union branch. Each branch of the General Union also has officers which are elected by the members. The union is run by its members.

Can I be fired for joining the union?

Quebec labour law prohibits employers from discriminating against people in any way because of their union activity. If an employer does harass or discriminate against a union member, the union can fight at the job and at the Administrative Labour Tribunal.

However, the best safeguard against the employer harassing anyone is for everyone to stick together. Without a union, management has a free hand to treat people as it pleases. But with a union everyone has the protection of the law and their coworkers.

What will the union negotiate at my workplace?

It’s up to you and your coworkers to decide what to negotiate for. After declaring a union branch you and your coworkers will discuss which issues are important to everyone. These issues will form the basis for your demands to the employer. Experienced union organizers can provide assistance with any technical issues related to drafting or negotiating the demands.

Won’t it cost a lot of money if the union comes in?

It’s natural for employees to be concerned about the financial health of companies where they work. After all, if the company goes out of business, it can’t pay anyone’s wages or salaries. On the other hand, the assumption that if the company is doing well the employees will be the beneficiaries is not necessarily the case. A profitable company could become even more profitable by laying off employees or paying less in wages and benefits or by paying the same salaries but increasing the working hours. Even having an exact profit figure doesn’t give the full picture, as companies can spend money on a lot of things besides employees (e.g. financing expansion, opening new locations, moving into new industries, management salaries, and expensive advertising campaigns). The only way to ensure economic justice for employees is by building strong unions.

Management says the union is just looking for union dues. Why should I pay money to the union?

Your dues pay for office expenses. Union activists are motivated by a sense that what they are doing is right, and most of them are completely unpaid. Nobody is getting rich off union dues. Your dues are spent promoting your rights and working conditions. Employers also pay dues to organizations. Employers in Quebec have their own ‘unions’, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Quebec clothing manufacturers’ association. They pay for representation, why shouldn’t you?

How do I get a union at my job in Montreal?

You are welcome to join the union as an individual, but the greater the number of union members in your workplace, the more we can accomplish. The General Union has experienced organizers who can help you and your co-workers with the mechanics of forming a union at your job.

If you would like to book an appoint with a labour organizer to speak about getting a union at your job in Montreal, please book an appointment here: