The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE), which represents around 65,500 preschool, primary and secondary school teachers, voted on Thursday for an indefinite general strike starting November 23. The talks at the negotiating table with Quebec about the renewal of collective agreements are “unproductive,” said the president of the union organization, Mélanie Hubert.
The latter believes that the countdown for the government has begun with this “last resort” pressure tactic. “Treasury President Sonia LeBel has 20 days left to take the necessary measures to not only provide relief to teachers, but also give them hope that they will experience a better return to school in 2024.”
On September 28, members of the nine unions affiliated to the FAE gave themselves a mandate for an indefinite general strike to be carried out in due course. This Thursday they voted in the Federal Negotiating Council of the trade union organization for November 23rd.
On Sunday, Ms. LeBel presented a new offering that scored significantly higher than her previous one Increasing the salary increase for state employees from 9% to 10.3% over five years. Trade unions, including the FAE, expressed dismay at the proposal. The Treasury Department president then encouraged her to “properly study” the “very complex and nuanced” government files and then get back to her.
A “clear message”
The FAE therefore says it is sending a clear message to Quebec by setting a date for an indefinite general strike, even if it is aware of the challenge it poses to the population. “However, the government’s lack of understanding of the suffering of teachers and their desertion will lead to even more devastating consequences for the quality of education in the coming decades,” she emphasizes.
In the metropolitan region, the Montreal, Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Pointe-de-l’Île and Laval school service centers will be affected by the strike. On the Quebec side it will be that of the capital and the First Lordships. The strike will affect Montérégie and the Laurentides, as well as Trois-Lacs, Val-des-Cerfs and Mille-Îles. In Outaouais, the affected school service centers are those of Portages-de-l’Outaouais, Draveurs and Coeur-des-Vallées.
The Autonomous Education Federation is not part of the all-union common front. The latter, made up of the Quebec Federation of Workers, the Centrale des syndicats du Québec, the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services and the Confederation of National Trade Unions, will hold a first day of strike next November 6th. Together they represent around 420,000 members.
The Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation, which is not part of the common front that brings together 80,000 nurses and other health workers, will leave on November 8th and 9th.
Hope to “reach an agreement”
The FAE emphasizes that it will continue to actively discuss with the government of François Legault until November 23 “in order to reach a satisfactory agreement”. Ms. LeBel’s office, contacted by Le Devoir, said it would like to finalize an agreement with the Autonomous Education Federation before the end of the year.
The FAE, for its part, is demanding salary catch-up from its members because they “still earn a salary below the Canadian average,” it claims.
The union organization also demands that teachers be able to benefit from various forms of vacation. “The nature of teachers’ work makes it more difficult to apply certain solutions that can promote the balance between family, work and private life. Teachers work according to a set school calendar and daily schedule. However, changes in Quebec society bring new family realities, such as caring for aging parents. »
She also calls for a more balanced composition of classes, as regular classes have “exceeded a difficulty threshold that limits teaching and learning.”
“The FAE will always defend the idea that schools must welcome all students, regardless of their background, social class or difficulty. “However, the choice of specialist class, with its smaller groups and its specially trained teaching staff, is essential and, for many students, represents what suits them best,” said a press release from the union group.