The schools of the Montreal School Service Center (CSSDM) will be closed for the morning, November 6. It is the strike of the common union front, which includes support and professional staff, which leads to this closure.
Although CSSDM teachers have not, so far, gone on strike, the “mobilization and picketing activities announced by the unions” representing support and professional staff will prevent access to schools, writes the CSSDM in a letter sent to parents.
Classes will resume in the afternoon, according to the usual schedule. However, dinner service, childcare and school transportation to get to school will not be offered, specifies the CSSDM.
“We are aware that the absence of school transportation may pose a major challenge for some of you and that, in these circumstances, you may decide to keep your child at home for this particular day,” it continues, in specifying that absences must be justified.
The Common Front announced last week that its members will be on strike on November 6. The new offer submitted by Quebec on Sunday was deemed “insulting” by the unions, who are maintaining their pressure.
CSSDM teachers are not part of this common union front. The union that represents them, the Teachers’ Alliance, however, has a mandate for an unlimited general strike to be exercised at the appropriate time.
The common front includes 420,000 workers in health, social services and education represented by unions of the CSN, CSQ, APTS and FTQ.