Welcome back to Metropolis!

In this episode, host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down with Felix Fuchs, a returning guest, labour expert, and professor, to discuss the current labour disputes affecting Montreal. Their conversation dives into recent labour developments, focusing on strikes at Canada Post and broader issues surrounding public services and workers’ rights.

Fuchs reflected on last December’s Common Front strikes, during which educators and other public sector workers resisted government austerity measures. "It’s not just about pay," he explained. "It’s about creating better working conditions so we can serve society better."

He shared updates on the Common Front’s achievements, including increased support for early-career teachers, pay raises, and strengthened future negotiation strategies, particularly through their collaboration with Dawson College’s union efforts.

The discussion then shifted to the ongoing postal workers’ strike against Canada Post. Since November 14, 2024, over 50,000 postal workers have been on strike, demanding better and safer working conditions, wage increases to match inflation, and improved group benefits such as medical coverage, disability leave, and paid medical leave.

The strike has drawn mixed reactions from Canadians, including Montreal residents. Some businesses have called for government intervention, though no action has been taken yet.

Fuchs criticized portrayals of strikers as disruptive or greedy, emphasizing that many are simply fighting to maintain a decent standard of living amid rising inflation. He also highlighted how management’s push to hire contractors for weekend deliveries reflects a concerning trend toward precarious gig-economy jobs, undermining union efforts and job security for workers.

"Unions are a tool we can all use to make things better," Fuchs stated, underscoring the positive societal changes unions have driven—from securing maternity leave to establishing minimum wage laws. He urged listeners to view unions as essential to building a more equitable society, especially in an era when public services are often run like businesses.

Fuchs concluded by encouraging Montrealers to reframe labour disputes as collective investments in stronger public services for everyone. "Public services shouldn’t be treated like businesses," he insisted. "They’re about serving the community and improving lives."