Le syndicalisme au Québec, enjeux de représentation des membres d’origines ethnoculturelles diverses
This Master’s paper focuses on the various issues surrounding ethnocultural minorities’ participation and representation in Quebec trade unions. The aim of this research is to better understand the determining factors that underlie the implication of ethnocultural minority members within trade unions, as well as to assess the impact of these determinants on the level of inclusion within these organizations. This analysis of trade union inclusiveness and of their associated practices taken in relation to the participation of minority group members was inspired by Poutignat’s typology of trade union practices aimed toward diversity.  In this research, a two-phase approach was adopted. At first, with the objective of filling a major statistical gap regarding ethnic minority representation, the researcher gathered descriptive statistical analysis in order to establish the current state of affairs. Subsequently, twelve semi-directed interviews were conducted with members, representatives and employees of a Quebec-based trade union, this with the intention of identifying the inner workings of minority group member participation within trade unions.  Firstly, our analysis has shown that immigrants are underrepresented within trade unions. The individuals that are most strongly affected are those who have been living in Quebec for less than 10 years, independently of sex, scholarship and employment sector. The Haitian community is the only group in which these statistical findings do not apply. People from this community are not characterized by an underrepresentation in unions, although, conversely, their unionization rate is higher than the reference group i.e. people of French and English Canadian descent. Secondly, three key findings have emerged from the interviews that were conducted. On one hand, people belonging to an ethnic minority are confronted with specific issues that are less likely to affect individuals from the majority ethnic group. On the other hand, three types of determinants appear to have an impact on the participation of people from an ethnic minority group : micro (individual), meso (workplace), and macro (trade union center). Finally, the results of this research suggest that the presence of a significant ethnic minority group and the activism that certain minority group representatives may display are the two main factors that determine the adoption of an inclusive stance by a trade union.
Discrimination Unionism Representation Discrimination Minority groups Ethnocultural minorities