SEIU’s roots in Quebec go back to 1946, when a group of 12 elevator operators in Montreal were chartered as Local 298 and were soon joined by a unit of hospital workers. By 1986, the local had grown large enough that it split into two locals, roughly along public-private sector lines. Public- sector members mainly remained in Local 298, with private-sector workers transferring to the new Local 800. Montréal se sont constitués comme "Local 298", et ont vite été rejoint par un groupe de travailleurs hospitaliers. En 1986, le "Local" avait tellement grandi qu'il fallu le séparer en deux "Locals": Les membres travailleurs du secteurs public sont restés dans le "Local 298", et les membres travailleurs du secteur privé ont été transféré au nouveau "Local 800".

1. 188 STRONGER TOGETHER: THE STORY OF SEIU
SEIU Is Major Force In Quebec
SEIU is a growing force in Quebec, Canada’s French- healthcare and property services workers. Local 298 is now
speaking and most densely unionized province. the largest home care workers union in Quebec and the main
SEIU’s roots in Quebec go back to 1946, when a group union of healthcare workers; Local 800 is the largest clean-
of 12 elevator operators in Montreal were chartered as Local ing-sector union in the province.
298 and were soon joined by a unit e Quebec delegation to the
of hospital workers. By 1986, the 2008 SEIU convention in Puerto
local had grown large enough that it Rico included SEIU International
split into two locals, roughly along Vice President Danielle Legault of
public-private sector lines. Public- Local 298 and International Execu-
sector members mainly remained in tive Board member Raymond Larch-
Local 298, with private-sector work- er, president of Local 800.
ers transferring to the new Local 800. After listening to reports of the
By 2010, membership of the two troubled U.S. healthcare system, with
locals had grown to nearly 40,000. its millions of uninsured citizens, Le-
About 25,000 healthcare and so- gault and Larcher reported on SEIU’s
cial services workers are represented work in Quebec to maintain the pub-
by Local 298. Local 800 has about lic healthcare system and to protect
15,000 members working in property services, schools and workers’ rights.
universities, hotels and restaurants, and service, nancial, As Legault noted later, “In the past four years, the
and commercial services. Quebec government has passed laws that infringe upon our
In recent years, SEIU members in Quebec have dedi- members’ rights. But we have fought back and had victo-
cated energy and resources to organizing thousands of new ries...the Quebec union movement is more active than ever.”
when the provincial government attempted to gut pay equity SEIU local unions also were ghting through the union’s
laws. e local ended up winning a historic court ruling that “Dignity” campaign in Ontario to preserve minimum stan-
translated into more than $418 million for SEIU members. dards of nursing and personal care for residents in long term
e pay equity adjustments directed by the court boosted care facilities. Action by several SEIU locals prompted the gov-
wages for thousands of women working in nursing homes, ernment to release an additional $100 million in long term
home care agencies, child care, and other predominantly care funding.
female workplaces.