Members of Quebec’s largest paramedics union placed bags of manure at the doors of several CAQ cabinet ministers’ offices last week, in a protest against stalled collective‑bargaining talks.
The bags were left on the thresholds of the ministers’ offices in the provincial capital, directly outside the entrances used by the cabinet members. The action was carried out by union members who entered the building’s lobby area and deposited the manure without causing damage to property.
Union officials said the stunt was meant to convey the growing frustration among paramedics over the lack of progress in negotiations for a new contract with the provincial government. By using a highly visible and unconventional method, the union aimed to draw public attention to what it described as an impasse in the bargaining process.
Negotiations for a new collective agreement between the paramedics union and the Quebec government have been at a standstill for several weeks. The parties have been unable to reach a consensus on key issues, leaving the union’s rank-and‑file members without a renewed contract and uncertain about future working conditions.
The manure demonstration adds a dramatic element to an ongoing dispute that has so far produced no public statements from the CAQ cabinet ministers or the premier. No injuries were reported, and police were not called to the scene. The union’s decision to use manure as a symbolic protest underscores the depth of dissatisfaction among its members as talks remain deadlocked.