Montreal Activists #FightFor15

The Demonstration Was Not Declared Illegal, No Arrests Made

NewsMatt D’Amours — Published April 17, 2016

The event was part of a two-day string of protests in North America under the #FightFor15 movement, which was started by American fast-food workers seeking a living wage in 2012.

The Montreal demonstration was organized by a coalition of community organizations, unions and activist groups, including 15 & Fairness McGill, Industrial Workers of the World, and the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain-CSN.

Dominique Daigneault, president of the CCMM-CSN, told The Link that the fight for a $15 per hour minimum wage is an attempt to support the poorest workers in our society.

“It’s unacceptable that, in Quebec, there are workers that work full time, but are below the poverty line. We estimate that a minimum wage of $15 an hour would permit these workers to have a decent revenue,” Daigneault explained. “That’s the object of our demand: it’s a way of fighting against poverty, a way of reducing social inequalities.”

In a press release, the Montreal coalition supporting #FightFor15 argued that $15 per hour minimum wage is “a minimum and indispensable condition for a decent life.” The group decried the Quebec government’s minimum wage increase of 20 cents to $10.75 — effective May 1 — as being insufficient.

At around 6:30 p.m., the assembled group took to the street for a planned march. Since organizers had provided an itinerary to police, the march was not declared illegal, and only six police officers on bikes were seen near the demonstration.

As the march passed down Saint Hubert St., members of the IWW were seen handing out flyers and engaging in discussions with bystanders on the issues of the minimum wage and poverty.

The group marched for just under an hour, and returned to Jean-Talon metro, where they dispersed shortly thereafter. No incidents with police were reported.