(Quebec) Light at the end of the tunnel for hundreds of thousands of Quebec parents: children could be back in class next Monday, according to François Legault, who argues that the negotiation with striking teachers is “going very well”. This is false, retorts the Autonomous Education Federation.
“I am hopeful that all children will return to school as of Monday,” said the Prime Minister upon his arrival Wednesday at the Honoré-Mercier building, which houses his offices.
“First of all, things are going well, very well with the teachers, we talk to each other about the heaviness of the task, about how we can add people to the classes. Things are going very well,” said Mr. Legault, adding that returning to class as quickly as possible is “very important” for him and the children.
The response from the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) was quick.
“Contrary to what François Legault says, the news at the table is not encouraging. The government is blowing hot and cold. He promises us an opening and then immediately closes the door. The government’s strategy is clearly to divide the movement and exhaust the teachers,” the union wrote on social networks.
“Don’t ride François Legault’s roller coaster,” we also read.
In a video shared on social networks Tuesday evening, the president of this union, Mélanie Hubert, already had a different tone from that of the government.
When it comes to negotiation, “days follow one another and are not always the same,” explained M.me Hubert.
“ [Lundi]at the end of the day, the management side submitted texts in anticipation of the next day and [ils] did not necessarily reflect what was said during the day on Monday. […] They did not represent our ideas,” says Mélanie Hubert.
“We have fallen back a little into the same mode that we have been in for some time, that is to say the good old reflex: “it’s up to the union to give us feedback now”,” adds -she Mélanie Hubert.
“The urgency is that things get resolved at the tables,” she nevertheless asserts, saying she still has hope of an agreement before Christmas.
The approximately 65,000 teachers of the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) have been on an indefinite general strike since November 23. The pressure has been increasing in recent days on parents and union members who do not have strike funds. Voices are also being raised about the effects of the prolonged strike on the learning of children and adolescents.
Health: “very difficult” negotiations
On the other hand, François Legault let it be known that negotiations with the unions representing health workers are “very difficult”.
“There is almost no opening to give us the flexibility which is absolutely necessary to improve health services, so on that side, I think that things will be fine in January,” said the Prime Minister without naming a particular union.
On Sunday, the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS-CSN), which for its part was part of the common union front, also affirmed that the negotiations were not progressing at the desired “speed”. “We cannot publicly announce that we want to settle before the end of the year and have this rhythm. The government does not behave as if it is urgent,” indicated the president, Réjean Leclerc.
The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) – the largest nurses’ union – submitted a counter-offer to the Legault government three days ago.