Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank the witnesses for meeting with our committee to discuss this crucial bill. My political party and I have contributed to the bill. This issue is close to my heart.
As Ms. Chabot pointed out, after major union struggles in Quebec, anti‑scab measures were adopted in 1977. This happened because men and women got organized, stood up for their rights and fought to improve their working and living conditions.
At the federal level, we aren't there yet, unfortunately. However, there are more and more examples at the provincial level, so that's a good sign. We're almost there.
I started working for the Canadian Union of Public Employees 22 years ago. Two weeks after I started, the year‑long labour dispute at Vidéotron began. The dispute lasted as long as it did because replacement workers were used. I think that this was my first exposure, in real life, to the impact of the lack of legislation in this area.
I'm not just talking about situations that took place 20 years ago. For example, two years ago, Ocean Group in Sorel‑Tracy was locked out. The employer paid replacement workers more than the locked‑out union members were asking for under their collective agreement. These are truly anti‑union tactics.
Right now, the dispute at the port of Quebec has been going on for over a year and a half.
Meanwhile, at Vidéotron in Gatineau, just across the river, hundreds of workers have been locked out. Every day they see other people taking their jobs and their pay.
In your experience, Ms. Bruske, how does this type of situation affect the lives of the families and spouses of these workers, who are watching their livelihoods slip through their fingers?