Members of Quebec unions affiliated with the Fédération du personnel de support scolaire (FPSS-CSQ) voted Thursday during general assemblies in favor of work stoppages which could go as far as an indefinite general strike.
School support staff represent 40% of people working in Quebec schools.
The president of the Federation, Éric Pronovost, explains that after almost a year of negotiations, the members wanted to send a strong signal. Mr. Pronovost criticizes the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, for not hearing the requests of school support staff members.
Unions report staff shortage problems, particularly caused by the lack of full-time positions, broken schedules and problems with work-family balance. Éric Pronovost maintains that these issues are currently harming staff retention.
The Federation will follow the outcome of the votes of the other member unions of the Common Front before specifying the continuation of its means of action.
In the meantime, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gives a cold reception to the offers submitted this week by the Employer Negotiating Committees representing French-speaking school service centers, English-speaking school boards and colleges for the renewal of agreements collective support staff of school and college support staff.
CUPE spokesperson Marie-Claude Arbour deplores that there is nothing in these offers to resolve the labor shortage or to encourage the attraction of personnel in the education and of higher education.
As for the request from the President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, to substantially reduce the number of requests from each party in order to prioritize the most important and thus increase the chances of reaching an agreement, the union side affirms that She will soon present her prioritized requests.
The tour of general meetings of union members must conclude this Friday. The Common Front will take stock of the situation subsequently.