This text is part of the special section Unionism
The “historic” indefinite general strike of 65,000 teachers, a first in Quebec in 40 years, began on November 23. At the heart of this mobilization are crucial demands that reflect the deep concerns of teachers about their working conditions and especially about the future of Quebec’s education sector.
At the negotiating table, each party has remained stuck to its positions for too long now. The unsuccessful discussions between the government and the nine member unions of the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE) — including the Alliance of Professors of Montreal (APPM) — therefore ended up leading to the general strike unlimited which affects school service centers in the Montreal, Quebec, Outaouais, Laurentides and Montérégie regions.
Quebec is proposing basic salary increases of 10.3% over five years and a lump sum of $1,000, while the union side, arguing that current compensation does not adequately reflect the importance of the teaching profession, demands annual increases. of their remuneration by 4% or which keep pace with inflation.
On the other hand, the FAE insists on the need to improve the working conditions of its members, arguing that the current excessive workload compromises their well-being and the quality of their education. This requires in particular a significant reduction in the number of students per class in order to allow them to devote more time to each of them and to meet their individual needs, especially for some of them, who require a particular attention.
“These are considerations to help the work-family balance of staff, especially considering that 75% of teachers are women on whom today unfortunately still fall important family tasks,” underlines Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, president of the Alliance of Professors of Montreal (APPM), made up of 10,000 members.
“That’s the crux of the problem. We see that more and more teachers are leaving the profession along the way, even at the start of their career. We also have few elected officials who want to become teachers because the task is too heavy. The observation is clear: the daily lives of teachers must improve because the students also suffer,” she insists.
Having public opinion on your side
This union struggle is part of a vast, large-scale protest movement in Quebec, which has been underway since the beginning of the month, including in particular the walkout days of the Common Front as well as those of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), which works in favor of the FAE and the APPM, rejoices Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre.
“We see a lot of solidarity from the population. We are not waging this battle only for ourselves, but also for public schools which cannot afford to descend to an even lower level than where they are currently located. And people understand that and know that,” she exclaims, indicating that this support, if it does not crumble over time, could greatly help the movement to end quickly.
Parents have indeed expressed their understanding of the teachers’ demands, while calling for a rapid resolution of the conflict, as they find themselves in a delicate situation, torn between support for teachers and their concern regarding the continuity of their children’s education. children.
No strike fund
On the other hand, the president of the Alliance of Professors of Montreal notes a frank determination of the 65,000 teachers ready to lead the fight to the end, until they reach an agreement with the Council of treasury, although they have no strike fund. According to her, this strike, the ultimate means of pressure when the others have achieved nothing, reflects the exhaustion and anger of the teachers, but also a deep desire to change things.
“Obviously, we would have liked not to end up with this strike which is restrictive for everyone and which deprives us of wages. It is not at all with joy of heart that we exercise our mandate, it is because we have no choice to improve our lot,” continues M.me Beauvais-St-Pierre, which of course hopes that the labor conflict does not get bogged down.
So, until the dispute is resolved, negotiations with the employer side continue on a daily basis, assures the APPM. According to Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, as long as the government does not demonstrate openness regarding their demands, considered essential that can slow down the exodus of teachers, as well as better recognition of the profession, the strike will continue.
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