Fewer gifts, no hockey tournament: Teachers without pay during the strike are preparing for heartbreaking financial sacrifices ahead of the holidays.
• Also read: “This is sport!”: Parents bring their children to work during the school strike
• Also read: Strikes in the public sector: First the organization, then the salaries, says LeBel
“It’s a real disaster. I can’t be the only one who cries every night and says to myself “My God” when it has to take two weeks, three weeks, a month when Christmas comes,” confides Geneviève Savard, a preschool teacher at the École du Boisé in Gatineau.
Le Boisé Elementary School in Gatineau. Photo from the Cœur-des-Vallées School Service Center website
The separated mother with shared custody of her children is among the more than 66,000 members of the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) who will be on indefinite general strike from Thursday and will therefore live without pay because they have no strike funds.
“Cut the presents”
Ms. Savard supports the strike because she believes her working conditions need to change as incidents of behavioral problems in her class increase every year.
However, she is under enormous stress and fears that she will have to live without money for an indefinite period of time.
“I will reduce the Christmas presents. I turned to apps that let you buy foods that are nearing their sell-by date at grocery stores.”
The fear of a long strike is also felt by the teacher couple Maxime Frapier and Francesca Voyer, who work with students who suffer from autism spectrum disorder at a secondary school in Outaouais. They are also members of the FAE.
“It’s a big sacrifice to forego two salaries for a long period of time,” she explains.
The couple, who have two boys aged four and nine, are considering canceling their eldest’s participation in their hockey tournament.
“We don’t know if we can pay for the hotel room and bring lunch,” worries Ms. Voyer.
“We no longer have a choice”
However, the latter continues to support the strike, which, according to her estimates, “will last a few weeks”.
“We are motivated. “We attend a technical school and therefore see that our customer base grows year after year,” while resources cannot keep up, regrets Ms. Voyer. “We no longer have a choice as workers and as a society.”
Strike calendar
daily
Tuesday
Joint Frontline Attack – Day 1 of 3
Who is mobilized?
- 420,000 workers are affiliated to the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS. This front brings together employees from the health and education networks.
- In schools, the Common Front represents support staff, specialists and 60% of teachers.
- In CEGEPs, 85% of teachers are connected to the Common Front through the CSN.
- In the health network, the Common Front represents not only office workers but also specialists and technicians.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of schools, CEGEPs, health and social services.
- School and daycare classes are suspended in most school service centers in Quebec. Also closure of administrative centers.
Planned events
- A large demonstration is not planned.
Wednesday
Joint Frontline Attack – Day 2 of 3
Who is mobilized?
- 420,000 workers are affiliated to the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS. This front brings together employees from the health and education networks.
- In schools and CEGEPs, the Common Front represents support staff, professionals and 60% of teachers.
- In the health network, the Common Front represents not only office workers but also specialists and technicians.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of schools, CEGEPs, health and social services.
- School and daycare classes are suspended in most school service centers in Quebec. Also closure of administrative centers.
Planned events
- A large demonstration is not planned.
THURSDAY
Joint Frontline Attack – Day 3 of 3
Who is mobilized?
- 420,000 workers are affiliated to the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS. This front brings together employees from the health and education networks.
- In schools and CEGEPs, the Common Front represents support staff, professionals and 60% of teachers.
- In the health network, the Common Front represents not only office workers but also specialists and technicians.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of schools, CEGEPs, health and social services.
- School and daycare classes are suspended in most school service centers in Quebec. Also closure of administrative centers.
Planned events
- A large demonstration is not planned.
FIQ Strike – Day 1 of 2
Who is mobilized?
- The Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) represents 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of health and social care facilities.
- In the health network, the strike is governed by essential services. Therefore, some treatments will be slowed down on certain units.
- In addition, it is mandatory that 70% of operational services and 80% of services be maintained in subspecialty centers.
Planned events
- A large demonstration is not planned.
Unlimited general strike for the FAE
Who is mobilized?
- The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) represents 66,000 teachers in Montreal, Quebec, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Estrie and Montérégie. This corresponds to 40% of teachers.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of schools
- Suspension of classes for an indefinite period in the school service centers represented by the FAE. A return to class will only be possible if the union reaches an agreement in principle or makes significant progress at the negotiating table.
Planned events
- At 11:30 a.m. demonstration “for teachers and public schools” organized by the FAE in Jarry Park in Montreal.
Friday
FIQ Strike – Day 2 of 2
Who is mobilized?
- The Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) represents 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of health and social care facilities.
- In the health network, the strike is governed by essential services. Therefore, some treatments will be slowed down on certain units.
- In addition, it is mandatory that 70% of operational services and 80% of services be maintained in subspecialty centers.
Planned events
- A large demonstration is not planned.
Unlimited general strike for the FAE
Who is mobilized?
- The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) represents 66,000 teachers in Montreal, Quebec, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Estrie and Montérégie. This corresponds to 40% of teachers.
Disturbances are to be expected
- Picketing in front of schools and CEGEPs
- Suspension of classes for an indefinite period in the school service centers represented by the FAE. A return to class will only be possible if the union reaches an agreement in principle or makes significant progress at the negotiating table.
Planned events
- At 11:30 a.m. demonstration “for teachers and public schools” organized by the FAE in Jarry Park in Montreal.
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