Four McGill University faculty associations have launched a legal battle against Quebec’s controversial Bill 89. They claim it infringes on the constitutional right to strike. Representing over 500 academics, the associations filed for judicial review at Quebec Superior Court. Their goal is to declare the legislation unconstitutional and invalid from the day it passed.
Since Bill 89 gives the provincial labour minister broad authority to curb strikes considered harmful to the public, critics argue this weakens workers’ rights. Evan Fox-Decent, president of the Association of McGill Professors of Law, said the law directly attacks fundamental freedoms. Moreover, he referenced a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that recognized striking as essential to freedom of association.
In response, Barry Eidlin, vice-president of the Association of McGill Professors of Arts, warned the bill could allow the government to force universities to keep some services during strikes. As a result, he said, it threatens academic independence. He stressed that fair negotiations require balanced power. Without the right to strike, workers lose their leverage. Consequently, employers could then stall talks knowing employees can be forced back to work.
The four faculty associations include the McGill Academic Staff of the School of Continuing Studies, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Law. According to Margaret Levey, president of the Continuing Studies association, the fight goes beyond McGill. She emphasized that all Quebec workers deserve protection for core labor rights.
Labour Minister Jean Boulet defended the bill by citing past incidents. For example, he referenced the long strike at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery where animals disturbed remains. He also mentioned possible disruptions in education and transportation. Boulet believes Bill 89 would manage essential services better during long labor disputes.
Still, union leaders and faculty members believe the law sets a dangerous precedent. They say it weakens legal protections and risks further restrictions. As public debate grows, McGill’s legal challenge could shape labor relations in Quebec. Ultimately, it raises the question of how governments should balance public needs with workers’ rights—and whether universities can negotiate without political pressure.
