Quebec truckers halt strike threats following meeting with transport minister

MONTREAL (Oct. 18, 1999) Ð Union leaders representing owner-operators in Quebec promised to suspend any strike actions in the coming weeks following productive meetings with provincial Transport Minister Guy Chevrette on Friday.

Francois Vaudreuil, president of the Centrale des Syndicats Democratiques, one of two unions representing protesting truckers, told the Montreal Gazette that any blockades or protests would not take place pending a public forum on the issues concerning the drivers, to be held within the next month.

Chevrette reportedly agreed to the forum as a way to allow drivers, government officials, and industry leaders to air their differences.

“We have had a very public debate in the last few weeks,” said Vaudreuil. “In the forum we can debate openly with the government and employers. We want the right to reorganize. It will be an important social debate.”

Together, the CSD and the Confederation of National Trade Unions represent about 4000 truck drivers.

The drivers have been staging blockades to protest diesel fuel prices and to gain the right for owner/operators to form unions, among other issues. On Oct. 8, Public Security Minister Serge Menard issued a court injunction forcing protesters to end the blockades, which was preventing fuel and other vital supplies from reaching consumers.