Teachers at the Regina Assumpta private college in northern Montreal launched a one-day strike by leaving their classes at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. They claim that after 15 negotiation sessions, management is not proposing any solutions and is “steering away”. Could this strike have a snowball effect in other schools?
The National Federation of Teachers of Quebec, which represents 46 private schools, including 11 currently in negotiations, says no other strikes are planned in the short term. “For the moment, this is the first school where we have gone on strike and we have not reached this point elsewhere. […] In Regina, it’s more difficult. Management unfortunately says no to everything. It’s blocking,” explains vice-president Léandre Lapointe.
Same story at the Federation of Private Education Personnel, which represents more than 45 private schools, 25 of which are in negotiations this fall. “For our part, we are not in this state of mind. For the moment, negotiations are going well,” says Stéphane Lapointe, president of this union affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec.
According to Léandre Lapointe, the working conditions of private sector teachers are less advantageous than those in the public sector. In 96% of the schools he represents, teachers have the same salary as the public. However, their parental leave is less generous and the number of students per class is often higher in the private sector than in the public sector.
And it is not necessarily true that students are “easier” in the private sector, says Léandre Lapointe.
We are easily left with 15% to 20% of our young people who have learning difficulties or intervention plans. The problem is that we don’t have the resources, tools and support to support them.
Léandre Lapointe, vice-president of the National Federation of Teachers of Quebec
“It is certain that there are young achievers, but some of them also come with performance anxiety,” he adds.
In the public network, the common front unions, affiliated with the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS, are continuing general assemblies to obtain strike mandates. These assemblies are held until Friday.
For smaller classes
At Regina Assumpta College, teachers are calling for an increase in the number of sick leaves and a reduction in the number of students per class in the first cycle. They are also asking for the opening of a room for students with special needs who require more time to complete their exams.
“It is ultimately for [nos élèves] that we are picketing today, for an improvement in teaching conditions,” said Patrick Lupien, president of the Teachers’ Union of Regina Assumpta College.
The hundred teachers want there to be an average of 34.5 students per class, and never more than 35, in 1D2e and 3e secondary. According to the president of the union, the largest classes currently have 36 students and nothing in the collective agreement prevents management from inflating the groups. For the public, classes have a maximum of 28 students in 1D secondary, 29 in 2e secondary and 32 in 3e4e and 5e secondary.
Currently, management has no openings. She tells us that this will call her business model into question. We are not asking to increase classes from 33, 34, 35 or 36 students to 28. We are just asking that a maximum number be established.
Patrick Lupien, president of the Regina Assumpta College Teachers’ Union
The college management, for its part, denies the blockage of negotiations. Julie Duchesne, general director of the establishment, affirms that mediation is underway with a conciliator from the Administrative Labor Tribunal and that a meeting is planned for next week. “We are always committed to continuing to negotiate responsibly. We want the well-being of our students and we also want good conditions for our teachers,” explained M.me Duchesne.
Parents of 1st grade studentsD and 2e secondary school were contacted in the morning so that they would authorize the school to let their young people leave, without support. Those whose parents were not contacted remained under the supervision of staff members. Teenagers 3e4e and 5e secondary school were able to leave college independently. Parents had been warned of the possibility of a surprise strike this fall and what to do if necessary.
This is the first time in the history of Regina Assumpta College, in nearly 70 years, that teachers have launched a strike. Their collective agreement expired in June 2022.