After two days of reflection, teachers affiliated with the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) decided to continue their indefinite general strike on Monday.
• Also read: “For the good of our children”: Legault calls on unions to end strike, FAE says “no to emotional blackmail”
“We had to analyze a government proposal. This strike will continue on Monday. “The FAE is the most democratic organization I know,” confirmed Mélanie Hubert, President of the FAE.
However, despite a proposal deemed unsatisfactory, a counteroffer will be presented to the government in a timely manner. “We dedicate ourselves to negotiating at the tables. We will take a concrete step. », added Ms. Hubert.
The Autonomous Education Federation has been on an indefinite general strike for a week.
When asked whether the two parties were still far from an agreement, the FAE president remained vague, despite some optimism. “Everything is relative. Our goal is not to stretch the sauce unnecessarily. This is the downside of democracy. It takes time. »
On Friday, Prime Minister François Legault called on teachers’ unions to stop the strike so as not to affect children’s academic success.
Mélanie Hubert considers this departure of the Prime Minister to be regrettable. The union reiterates that public schools, whose condition has been deteriorating for 25 years, are harming students. »
Schools whose teachers are affiliated with the Autonomous Education Federation will therefore normally remain closed on Monday.
The FAE took stock of the state of play in national negotiations following its Federal Negotiating Council.
FAE members discussed the next steps in negotiations with Quebec.
There were few options: to continue the general strike indefinitely, to suspend it, or even to demand the intervention of an arbitrator.
The strike by 65,500 teachers forces the closure of 40% of Quebec’s schools, something that hasn’t happened in 40 years.
“We cannot hurt our children, it is the most precious thing we have,” François Legault added on Friday.
The FAE brings together nine unions representing more than 65,500 preschool, primary and secondary school teachers.
It is present in the regions of Montreal, Capitale-Nationale, Laval, Outaouais, Laurentides, Estrie and Montérégie, where the four largest urban centers in Quebec are located.
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