Why I skipped the Union Protest at The Opening of Lachine Hospital’s New Dialysis Clinic

If the goal is to ‘disrupt’ Quebec Health Minister Barrett, the demonstrations should take place in his ‘backyard’ and not when opening a venue which benefits the community.

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The scheduled appearance on Friday of the Health Minister at the McGill University Lachine campus was the inauguration of the new 15 chair dialysis unit. For the majority of Quebecois, especially those living with kidney failure, the news of a new clinic is welcomed.

The MUHCEU CSN employees union demonstrating against the health minister at an event which benefits the community, risks feeding public empathy towards unions.

Its highly likely the public could view the MUHCEU union demonstration in a negative light. Even if the protest was directed against Minister Barrette’s Austerity measures the message could get confused.

Unions need to stop being media junkies and better select when and when not to protest, because not all headlines are positive.