Workers in the education, health and social services networks who are fed up with their working conditions took to the streets by tens of thousands on Thursday in the four corners of Quebec, encouraged by their fellow citizens.
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“We are going to be on strike for as long as necessary,” insisted Daisy Romero Heredia, an English second language teacher in a Montreal high school.
The walkout movement reached a peak on Thursday, when more than 10% of the Quebec working population was on strike, a historic number, according to the Common Front, a union group representing 420,000 members.
Demonstration of public sector workers in front of the Maisonneuve college for the third day of a three-day Common Front strike in Montreal.
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
The latter was in its third and final day of strike voted by its members, while the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), with 80,000 members, including several nurses, was on strike for its first of two planned days.
The Professional Teaching Federation (FAE), made up of 66,000 members, for its part, began an indefinite general strike which affects many schools in Quebec, including the greater Montreal region.
Teachers invade a Montreal park
It was the FAE teachers who formed the largest demonstration yesterday in Montreal, forming a veritable tide of red tuques provided by their union in the morning in Jarry Park, before marching south on the Saint-Laurent Boulevard.
There were “tens of thousands”, according to the estimates of a police officer on site.
“This is a historic moment. This is the first time in 40 years that teachers have said that they are fed up and that they are going out on an unlimited general strike,” declared the president of the FAE, Mélanie Hubert, on the microphone.
While seven out of ten Quebecers support the workers, according to a SOM survey published two days ago, this support was felt on the ground. Several merchants from Saint-Laurent Boulevard came out to encourage the demonstrators.
At the same time, another march began at the Maisonneuve college, this one organized by the Common Front. About 10,000 people participated, according to another police officer on the scene.
“We want better conditions for us and for the students,” explains Pascale David, speech therapist for 20 years for the Montreal School Service Center.
Speech therapists Florence Van Overmeire and Pascale David (center) came to walk with their children at the Common Front demonstration.
Photo Anouk Lebel
Extended strike?
Finally, thousands of people also converged on the Quebec side in a large-scale rally in front of the National Assembly, also organized by the Common Front. Other demonstrations also took place in several cities across Quebec, including Sherbrooke, Saguenay and in the Laurentians.
Common Front demonstration in front of the Quebec parliament.
Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
The union leaders of the Common Front, meeting in Quebec, invited the Legault government to discuss at the negotiating tables, rather than in the public square.
They said they would give themselves a few days before deciding on other means of pressure which could go as far as an unlimited general strike.
“We want to give the ongoing negotiations a chance,” said Éric Gingras, president of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec.
Strike calendar
day by day
Tuesday
Common Front Strike Day 1 of 3
Details
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
Details
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
Details
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
- Rally planned in front of the National Assembly of Quebec between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Demonstration from Collège Maisonneuve in Montreal from 10 a.m.
FIQ strike Day 1 of 2
Details
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.
FAE general strike Unlimited
Details
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.