A large majority of primary and secondary school teachers at the Découvreurs School Service Center (CSS) agree that they are not striking to get better pay, but to improve their daily working conditions.
• Also read: Government offer and union demands: Why the strike?
Thousands of teachers and education workers brandished noisemakers, trumpets and signs on Tuesday as part of the first of three days of strike called by the Common Front to express their dissatisfaction with the Quebec government.
While we hear a lot about the Treasury salary offer, which the Common Front considers to be “insignificant”, it is more the demands associated with the “increasing importance of the task” that motivate members of the Union de l’enseignement des Deux Rives ( SEDR) to stand up to the government.
Vincent Desbiens
“We are the ones who educate the people of tomorrow and want them to be mentally and physically healthy. But we can’t do this alone, we need support and we need working conditions that allow us to do this,” argues Marina Gonzalez, a Spanish teacher at De Rochebelle Secondary School.
In Quebec today, only the teachers of the CSS des Découvreurs are on the strike line.
Vincent Desbiens
Teachers from other service centers are represented by the Autonomous Education Federation. They will be on an indefinite general strike starting Thursday.
Vincent Desbiens
Breathless
All the people that Le Journal met near the CSS of the Découvreurs office called for more support, but above all for a revision of the composition of the classes.
“I teach computer science in the first and second secondary schools and have more than 300 students alone,” says Simon Duguay, a teacher at the De Rochebelle secondary school, in front of his colleagues, amazed at the task he is tasked with.
A French teacher at another school, who declined to give her name, says she is “out of breath” as her responsibilities increase over the course of her decades-long career.
“The students are having more and more difficulties. Some need a special teacher or even a speech therapist when they reach high school, and we are the ones who get stuck with these problems.”
More details to follow…
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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