Fewer gifts, no hockey tournament: teachers who will have to live without pay during the strike are preparing to make heartbreaking financial sacrifices as the holidays approach.
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“It’s a real disaster. I must not be the only one who cries every night saying to myself my God, if it has to last two weeks, three weeks, a month, as Christmas approaches,” confides Geneviève Savard, preschool teacher at the École du Boisé in Gatineau.
Le Boisé elementary school, in Gatineau.
Photo taken from the website of the Cœur-des-Vallées School Service Center
The separated mother with shared custody of her children is one of the more than 66,000 members of the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE) who will be on an indefinite general strike from Thursday and who will thus live without pay, because they have not no strike fund.
- Listen to the Dutrizac – Dumont meeting broadcast live every day at 7:05 a.m. via QUB radio :
“Cut in the gifts”
Mme Savard supports the strike because she believes that her working conditions must change while cases of behavioral problems are increasing each year in her class.
However, she is experiencing enormous stress, fearing having to live without money for an indefinite period.
“I’m going to cut back on Christmas presents. I turned to apps where you can buy food that’s about to expire in grocery stores.”
The fear of a long strike is also felt by the teaching couple Maxime Frapier and Francesca Voyer, who work with students living with an autism spectrum disorder in a secondary school in Outaouais. They are also members of the FAE.
“It’s a big sacrifice to cut yourself off from two salaries for a long period of time,” she explains.
The couple, who have two boys aged four and nine, are considering canceling their eldest’s attendance at their hockey tournament.
“We don’t know if we will be able to pay for the hotel room, bring lunches,” worries Mme See.
“We no longer have a choice”
The latter, however, still supports the strike which, she estimates, “will last a few weeks”.
“We are motivated. We are in a specialized school, so we see our clientele growing year after year,” while resources are not keeping pace, deplores M.me see. “We no longer have a choice as workers and as a society.”
Strike calendar
day by day
Tuesday
Common Front Strike – Day 1 of 3
Who is mobilized?
- 420,000 workers affiliated with the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS. This front brings together workers from the health and education networks.
- In schools, the Common Front represents support staff, professionals and 60% of teachers.
- In CEGEPs, 85% of teachers are affiliated with the Common Front via the CSN.
- In the health network, the Common Front represents professionals and technicians in addition to office employees.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of schools, CEGEPs, health and social service establishments.
- Classes in schools and daycare services are suspended in most school service centers in Quebec. Also closure of administrative centers.
Planned events
- No large-scale demonstration is planned.
Wednesday
Common Front Strike – Day 2 of 3
Who is mobilized?
- 420,000 workers affiliated with the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS. This front brings together workers from the health and education networks.
- In schools and CEGEPs, the Common Front represents support employees, professionals and 60% of teachers.
- In the health network, the Common Front represents professionals and technicians in addition to office employees.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of schools, CEGEPs, health and social service establishments.
- Classes in schools and daycare services are suspended in most school service centers in Quebec. Also closure of administrative centers.
Planned events
- No large-scale demonstration is planned.
THURSDAY
Common Front Strike – Day 3 of 3
Who is mobilized?
- 420,000 workers affiliated with the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS. This front brings together workers from the health and education networks.
- In schools and CEGEPs, the Common Front represents support employees, professionals and 60% of teachers.
- In the health network, the Common Front represents professionals and technicians in addition to office employees.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of schools, CEGEPs, health and social service establishments.
- Classes in schools and daycare services are suspended in most school service centers in Quebec. Also closure of administrative centers.
Planned events
- No large-scale demonstration is planned.
FIQ strike – Day 1 of 2
Who is mobilized?
- The Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) represents 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of health and social services establishments.
- In the health network, the strike is governed by essential services. Some treatments will therefore be slowed down on certain units.
- It is also mandatory that 70% of operating services and 80% of services in subspecialized centers be maintained.
Planned events
- No large-scale demonstration is planned.
Unlimited general strike for the FAE
Who is mobilized?
- The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) represents 66,000 teachers located in Montreal, Quebec, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Estrie and Montérégie. This represents 40% of teachers.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of schools
- Suspension of classes for an indefinite period in school service centers represented by the FAE. The return to class will only happen if the union reaches an agreement in principle or sees significant progress at the negotiating table.
Planned events
- At 11:30 a.m., demonstration “for teachers and public schools” organized by the FAE at Jarry Park, in Montreal.
Friday
FIQ strike – Day 2 of 2
Who is mobilized?
- The Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ) represents 80,000 nurses, practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of health and social services establishments.
- In the health network, the strike is governed by essential services. Some treatments will therefore be slowed down on certain units.
- It is also mandatory that 70% of operating services and 80% of services in subspecialized centers be maintained.
Planned events
- No large-scale demonstration is planned.
Unlimited general strike for the FAE
Who is mobilized?
- The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) represents 66,000 teachers located in Montreal, Quebec, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Estrie and Montérégie. This represents 40% of teachers.
Disruptions to expect
- Picket lines in front of schools and CEGEPs
- Suspension of classes for an indefinite period in school service centers represented by the FAE. The return to class will only happen if the union reaches an agreement in principle or sees significant progress at the negotiating table.
Planned events
- At 11:30 a.m., demonstration “for teachers and public schools” organized by the FAE at Jarry Park, in Montreal.