While hypotheses of a sectoral agreement between the government and the Common Front are increasing, the FAE remains the only education union that has not reached an agreement in principle with Quebec. The indefinite general strike that began on November 23rd is harming members.
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“I no longer have the means to do it either. My grocery shopping, my Christmas dinner, is financed by gift cards that one of my colleagues kindly gave me. I choose the medicines I buy,” teacher Geneviève Groleau told TVA Nouvelles.
“We had so much hope: OK, let's start, there will be a lot of pressure, the front will follow. And we quickly came to something. “That didn’t happen at all,” she added.
“The majority of teachers expected maybe a week, two weeks at most. And I think they played a trick on us,” explains Michel Pellerin, also a professional teacher.
Due to the government's agreement with the FSE, which is linked to the Common Front, all the pressure is now on the FAE.
“On the FAE side we are a bit confused, we may be forced to follow the FSE signings. It is good? Is not that good? It is certain that we will never find out anything about the negotiations,” explains Michel Pellerin.
Former CUPE director in Quebec, Marc Ranger, reiterates that quickly triggering an indefinite general strike is not a good strategy.
“It's always dangerous to put everything at risk and gamble with the security of your members, the financial security,” he says.
After 22 days of strike without pay, FAE's strategy is being called into question due to other unions' policy agreements.
“They took a big risk, it was very risky. “Once we have carried out the autopsy, I think there will be very serious results,” emphasizes Marc Ranger.
To see the full report, watch the video above.