Change of guard at the FTQ

After 38 years of activism, the Secretary General of the FTQ, Serge Cadieux, announces that he will not ask for renewal of mandate at the next Congress

Montreal, January 28, 2019. – The Quebec Federation of Labor (FTQ) announces that the Secretary General, Serge Cadieux, will be stepping down at the end of his current term, which will end at the FTQ Congress in November. At the same time, the FTQ announces that the current president, Daniel Boyer, will seek a third term as president.

“It is with great pride that I have served the workers throughout my nearly 40-year career. After 2 terms as Secretary General, the time has come for me to bow down and pass the torch to the next generation. I am also pleased that President Daniel Boyer intends to continue his work at the head of the station by standing for a new term, which ensures the stability of the FTQ. Together we have formed a great team, “says FTQ Secretary General Serge Cadieux.

“Serge has been a passionate and dedicated workmate in the service of workers. As a team, we managed to complete several projects, including the reform of the governance of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ to restore its credentials after several difficult years. His advice and negotiating skills in a good number of cases have made the FTQ even stronger and more dynamic. Mission accomplished ! Thank you, Serge, for all the work and sacrifices that you have made to ensure that the FTQ remains essential, “adds the president of the FTQ, Daniel Boyer.

Among the accomplishments of the Secretary General throughout his tenure, it is important to highlight the quality of his representations for the amendment to the Pension Benefits Act, which ensures its durability; the Disparity Clauses Campaign, which is expected to be completely eliminated by the new government in the coming months; the campaign on the public pension plans QPP and CPP which were finally improved; the consolidation of the FTQ’s finances to ensure its sustainability as well as its involvement in the whole environmental and climate change issue, to name just a few.

But the work of the Boyer-Cadieux team is not over. We intend to continue the campaigns on raising the minimum wage to $ 15 and on the introduction of public and universal drug insurance. The next federal elections are also among the concerns of the FTQ, which intends to make its electoral platform known to the public.

Serge Cadieux was elected Secretary General at the FTQ’s 30th Congress in 2013. Previously, he was a member of the United Auto Workers (TUA), now Unifor, and at the Union of Service Employees. In 1983, he joined the Union of Professional and Clerical Employees (SEPB) where he became Executive Director of SEPB-Québec in 2007 and National President.

Serge Cadieux is a graduate of the Université de Montréal in industrial relations and health and safety at work; He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Sciences from the Université du Québec à Montréal and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1992.

“Thank you to the workers who have trusted me over the years. I have served you with passion and I hope I have made a difference in improving the rights and working conditions of workers. I also want to thank the staff of the FTQ for their dedication and expertise, “concludes Secretary General Serge Cadieux.

The FTQ, the largest union center in Quebec, represents more than 600,000 workers.