The Labour Movement and Civil Society: Reflections on the People’s Summit from Quebec

Abstract

This paper reflects on the Québec labour movement and its present role as a political actor, particularly its ability to reestablish itself as a agent of meaningful social change. It is argued that Québec labour’s involvement in the People’s Summit in April, 2001 protesting the Summit of the Americas meetings in Québec City and the movement’s general embrace of many aspects of the anti-globalization agenda mark an historical turning point. The change of direction will not only affect the relationships among different Québec unions, but relations among unions, the state, and community groups, as well as international relations between unions based in the North and South.

Cet article propose une réflexion sur le syndicalisme québécois coonsidéré comme acteur politique et, plus particulièrement, sur sa capacité à redevenir un agent de changement social profond. Le contre_sommet d'avril 2001 à Québec et, plus globalement, l'appropriation syndicale du dossier de la mondialisation, apparaît comme un point tournant, si l'on se situe dans une perspective historique. Les axes de changement éventuel concernent le rapport entre syndicalisme, État et mouvement associatif, de même que les syndicats du Nord et du Sud